ISRO Successfully Launches GSLV F17 Rocket Carrying Imaging Satellite EOS-05 - NDTV

**ISRO Launches GSLV‑F17 Carrying Earth Observation Satellite EOS‑05**

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully lifted off its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV‑F17) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on September 4, 2024 at 11:58 UTC, marking the agency’s 19th flight of the GSLV series. The 51.7‑metre‑tall launch vehicle, powered by a solid first stage, a liquid‑fuelled Vikas second stage, and a cryogenic upper stage, placed the EOS‑05 payload into a sun‑synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 720 km. The mission proceeded without anomalies, and the vehicle’s final stage performed a precise orbit insertion, after which the satellite’s solar arrays deployed automatically.

EOS‑05 is the latest addition to India’s Earth observation constellation, designed to deliver high‑resolution optical imagery for applications ranging from agricultural monitoring and urban planning to disaster management and defence. The satellite carries a panchromatic camera capable of sub‑meter resolution (approximately 0.6 m) and a multispectral imager that captures data in several bands for vegetation health assessment and water‑resource management. Built by ISRO’s Satellite Integration Facility, EOS‑05 will operate for an expected 7‑year lifespan, transmitting data to ground stations across the country for both civilian and commercial users.

The successful launch underscores ISRO’s growing capability to field heavy‑lift launchers and deliver advanced remote‑sensing payloads on schedule, reinforcing India’s position in the global satellite market. It also follows a string of recent milestones, including the GSLV‑M3 launch of the Chandrayaan‑3 mission and the commercial launch of several foreign satellites aboard the LVM‑3. With the EOS‑05 now in orbit, ISRO is set to augment its data services portfolio and support the nation’s push toward a data‑driven economy while preparing for upcoming missions such as the Gaganyaan crewed flight and the next series of Earth observation satellites.