ISRO's GSLV-F17 Successfully Places EOS-05 Satellite in Orbit; PM Calls it 'Proud Moment'
ISRO's GSLV-F17 rocket successfully launched the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite early Friday, with PM Modi hailing the mission as a proud moment for the nation.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved another significant milestone early Friday with the successful launch of its GSLV-F17 rocket. The 51.7-metre-tall launch vehicle, with a liftoff mass of approximately 420.5 tonnes, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 2:55 a.m. IST.
The rocket subsequently placed its payload, the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit. This mission is notable as EOS-05 is India's first imaging satellite to be placed in a geosynchronous orbit, a feat that will enable the satellite to provide a continuous view of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the space agency on the achievement, describing it as a reflection of the excellence and innovation defining India's space sector. In a post on X, he noted that the mission was a 'proud moment for our nation' and highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry as a source of new strength for the space programme.
ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission's outcome, confirming that the GSLV-F17 had precisely injected the advanced satellite into its intended orbit. Mission Director Thomas Kurian called the launch a significant milestone for the GSLV programme, noting that it was the 19th flight of the vehicle. He added that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the GSLV has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, crediting years of preparation by the mission teams.
The EOS-05 satellite is designed to strengthen India's Earth observation capabilities, supporting advanced imaging and observation applications. Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also welcomed the mission's success, stating that EOS-05 enables advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral, and hyperspectral bands, reinforcing India's standing as a major global space power.