Finance
On Friday, a GSLV rocket carrying ISRO’s earth observation satellite EOS-05 was successfully launched from the spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at dawn. The rocket took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at 2:55 a.m. IST.
Soon after the rocket was launched, the EOS-05 satellite was successfully placed in its targeted sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.
“I am very happy to announce that the GSLV-F17 vehicle has successfully and precisely injected the advanced Earth observation satellite EOS-05, the Geo-Imaging Satellite, into the intended and required orbit,” ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan said.
Thomas Kurian, Mission Director for the GSLV-F15 rocket mission, said that it is the heaviest satellite ever launched by GSLV into a GTO or sub-GTO orbit.
“It is a moment of great pride and happiness for all of us. The success of GSLV has completed its 19th mission, and the mission carried the EOS-05, a uniquely configured Earth observation satellite capable of near-real-time imaging. It is the heaviest satellite ever launched by GSLV into a GTO or sub-GTO orbit. A launch lasts only a few minutes, but behind those few minutes are months and years of rigorous effort,” he said.
The mission carries EOS 5, a satellite designed to provide India with a continuous bird’s-eye view of the country from over 36,000 kilometers above ground.
The GSLV-F17 launch vehicle is 51.7 meters tall and has a liftoff mass of 420.5 tons, making it one of India’s largest operational launch vehicles.
Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh praised the successful launch of ISRO’s GSLV-F17 rocket mission, stating that India’s space capabilities are reaching new heights, cementing the country’s position as a global space power.
“EOS-05 is a state-of-the-art Earth Observation satellite and India’s first imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit, enabling advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands,” Jitendra Singh wrote on X.
Meanwhile, ISRO chief on Friday also said that “vigorous, systematic work,” is on for the launch of the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission during this calendar year.
In his address following the launch of EOS-05, he said that activities were underway very “vigorously and systematically,” for the uncrewed mission launch during this calendar year.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Narayanan stated that six additional launches, including the navigation satellite NVS-03, are planned for this fiscal year.
