India achieved a significant milestone in space exploration as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F17 carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, at 2.55 am on Friday.
The 51.7-metre-tall Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off from the second launch pad at the scheduled time, lighting up the pre-dawn sky amid rain.
EOS-05 marks a new chapter
According to ISRO, EOS-05 is a state-of-the-art Earth observation spacecraft and India’s first imaging satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit.
The satellite is expected to strengthen India’s Earth observation capabilities and support the country’s growing requirements for space-based imagery and monitoring.
The launch marked the 19th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, adding another milestone to the country’s space programme.
27-hour countdown ends with launch
The launch followed a 27-hour countdown that began at 11.30 pm on Wednesday. Teams at the space centre closely monitored the launch sequence before the vehicle lifted off in the early hours of Friday.
The mission was launched from Sriharikota, located around 135 km from Chennai, as the GSLV-F17 carried EOS-05 towards its intended orbit.
The successful launch comes as India continues to expand its capabilities in Earth observation and satellite-based applications.
With EOS-05 described as a major advancement in imaging from geosynchronous orbit, the mission represents another important step in the country’s evolving space programme.