India launches first Earth-imaging satellite designed for geosynchronous orbit
EOS-05 will provide persistent imaging of India
India today (4 September) successfully launched EOS-05, its first Earth-imaging satellite designed to operate from geosynchronous orbit, marking a significant milestone in the country's space programme.
The satellite was launched aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) GSLV-F17 rocket from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2:55am local time.
The 52-metre-tall GSLV-F17 placed EOS-05 into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, from where the satellite is expected to continue its ascent towards its operational geosynchronous orbit.
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"Mission Success! GSLV-F17 has successfully accomplished its mission, placing EOS-05 into the intended orbit," ISRO said on X.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation spacecraft that would strengthen India's Earth observation capabilities and improve related services.
"This is going to continuously scan a particular portion of the Earth, mainly India and its surroundings. For persistent monitoring purposes, it is going to be useful," he said.
Narayanan said the satellite would support continuous monitoring for civilian and strategic purposes but was not a "spy satellite".
Geosynchronous orbit is located roughly 36,000km above Earth, where a satellite can match the planet's rotation and remain over a similar region. This allows persistent observation of areas of interest and can support monitoring of weather events, fires, environmental changes and other rapidly developing situations.
EOS-05 is designed to provide repeated imagery of India and its surrounding region, including remote border areas and strategic locations. The satellite has both civilian and strategic applications.
Most of India's existing Earth observation and imaging satellites operate in low Earth orbit, meaning they move around the planet and revisit the same location periodically rather than maintaining persistent coverage.
The satellite carries two multispectral imagers for detailed Earth observation and is intended to support applications including land and environmental monitoring, agriculture and disaster management.
The launch follows India's failed attempt to place the EOS-03 Earth observation satellite into orbit in August 2021.
That mission, carried by the GSLV-F10, failed after an anomaly in the cryogenic upper stage prevented proper ignition, resulting in the loss of the satellite.
