CHENNAI: A GSLV-F17 rocket on Friday successfully placed the heaviest Earth observation satellite EOS-05 in the geosynchronous orbit, marking a great achievement in the country’s space programme, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan said on Friday.
“This is a great achievement in our country’s space programme. With the visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, India’s space capabilities continue to scale new heights, strengthening our position as a global space power.” Because this is the first earth observation satellite which is going to be placed in the geo platform for the national activities.”, he said.
In a precise textbook launch, after the conclusion of the 27.5 hour countdown, the 51.7 metre tall rocket, lifted off majestically emanating bright orange colour fumes on its tail from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at a pre-fixed time of 2.55 am at the spaceport, located about 135 km east of Chennai on Friday. The previous GSLV mission launched by ISRO was GSLV-F16/NISAR on July 30, 2025. It is the first-of-its-kind mission jointly developed by ISRO and NASA to image global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea ice and selected oceans, every 12 days.
Noting that the satellite would be operationalised in the coming days, he said, “it will become India’s first dedicated imaging satellite from the geo-synchronous orbit providing important strategic data for our country. Narayanan, also the secretary, department of space, said, “in the coming days, we will raise the orbit and take it to the required orbit and place the satellite in the geo-platform”. Union minister of State for science and technology Jitendra Singh says, “Another giant leap for India in Space!
