EOS-05 to deliver near real-time imagery for disaster monitoring, agriculture and other strategic applications
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone on Friday with the successful launch of EOS-05, India’s first dedicated Earth observation imaging satellite designed to operate from a geosynchronous orbit.
The 51.7-metre GSLV-F17 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2:55 am after a 27.5-hour countdown. About 18 minutes later, the 2,367-kg satellite separated from the launch vehicle and entered its intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.
EOS-05 will undergo further orbit-raising manoeuvres before reaching its final position around 36,000 km above Earth. From there, it is expected to provide repeated, near real-time imagery of India and neighbouring regions.
The satellite is designed to support disaster management, cyclone monitoring and early warnings, while also providing data for agriculture, forestry and water-body monitoring. ISRO has described it as an “eye in the sky” capable of generating strategic data for national applications.
The mission is also a major comeback for the GSLV after the 2021 failure of the GSLV-F10/EOS-03 mission. It marks ISRO’s first successful launch of 2026 and the heaviest satellite the GSLV has placed into a GTO or sub-GTO orbit.
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