The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F17 rocket from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 2:55 a.m. The rocket carried India’s advanced Earth observation satellite, EOS-05. About 18 minutes after liftoff, the satellite was successfully placed into its planned orbit. EOS-05 will operate at an altitude of around 36,000 kilometres above Earth and will continuously monitor the Indian subcontinent and nearby regions. The satellite is expected to help track weather changes, cloud movements, the formation of cyclones, and their movement more quickly. The satellite is equipped with advanced multi-spectral and hyperspectral imaging cameras. These cameras will continuously observe India’s land areas and provide near-real-time images and important information. EOS-05 will also help monitor India’s border regions and provide useful data to the country’s security agencies. ISRO scientists have described it as an important imaging satellite designed to observe India from a geostationary orbit. The satellite has been launched as a replacement for GISAT-1A, which was launched in 2021 but failed to reach its planned mission objectives. The successful GSLV-F17 mission is considered another important milestone for India’s space programme and ISRO.
