ISRO successfully launches Earth observation satellite EOS-05

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the country’s first ever imaging satellite in the Geosynchronous orbit on September 4.

• A Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket, carrying Earth observation satellite EOS-05, lifted off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in a pre-dawn mission.

• The satellite was successfully placed in the intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit, about 18 minutes after it lifted off from the spaceport.

• While several earth observation satellites operate from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the EOS-5 satellite is set to hover at an altitude of roughly 36,000 km above earth, which is the geosynchronous orbit and at that level, the satellite will match Earth’s rotational speed.

• At over 2,300 kg, this is the heaviest satellite ever to be carried by a GSLV.

• This was the 107th launch from Srihariharikota and the 19th mission of GSLV.

• Once the EOS-05 is operationalised, it will become India’s first dedicated imaging satellite to monitor the Earth from geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 km above the Earth.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)