• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its latest earth observation satellite EOS-01 and nine international customer satellites on board Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota.

• PSLV-C49 blasted off at 3:11pm, after a delay of nine minutes because of inclement weather conditions observed during countdown. 

• After 15 minutes and 20 seconds, EOS-01 was successfully injected into its orbit. Subsequently, nine commercial satellites were injected into their intended orbits. 

• After separation, the two solar arrays of EOS-01 were deployed automatically and the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network at Bengaluru assumed control of the satellite. In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration.

• EOS-01 is an earth observation satellite, intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.

• EOS-01 is the third satellite in a series of radar imaging satellites that ISRO has deployed following the launches of RISAT-2B and RISAT-2BR1.

• It is ISRO’s first mission this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

• This was the 51st mission of ISRO’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

• ISRO has used the PSLV-DL variant, equipped with two strap-on motors, for the launch. This is the second time it was deployed after the PSLV-C44 mission which had successfully launched imaging satellite Microsat R on January 24, 2019.

• The customer satellites were launched under an arrangement with ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

• The R2 satellite from Lithuania is for “technology demonstration”. Four from Luxembourg — Kleos  (KSM- 1A/1B/1C/1D) — would be used for maritime applications. The other four satellites from the United States — Lemur (Lemur-1,2,3,4) — are meant for multi-mission remote sensing purposes.

ISRO’s future missions

• ISRO is gearing up for a series of missions, including launch of Small Satellite Launch Vehicles.

• Chairman K.Sivan said that immediately we are going to have the PSLV-C50. It is going to launch satellite CMS01. Then ISRO will have the new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle.

• According to ISRO, those satellites which weigh less and come with limited launch options, can be sent on Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).

• At present, small satellites are sent along with other big satellites which are launched using ISRO’s trusted workhorse polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLVs) or Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV).   

• Sivan said ISRO is also planning to launch Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle GSLV-F10 carrying earth observation satellite EOS-03.

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