GSLV-F17 puts India’s first geo-orbit imaging satellite into space

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday successfully launched India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit, placing the over 2,300-kg EOS-05 into the intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket.

The launch marked ISRO’s first success of 2026 and came after a gap of nearly eight months.

The EOS-05 satellite was placed in the intended orbit about 18 minutes after lift-off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, ISRO announced.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the launch as a proud moment for the country and praised ISRO’s growing capabilities.

“Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation. The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define India’s space sector,” Modi said in a post on X.

The prime minister said the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry is adding new strength and scale to the country’s space programme and expanding India’s capabilities across the entire space ecosystem.

Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation.

The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2026

The EOS-05 satellite, weighing 2,367 kg, is set to operate at an altitude of roughly 36,000 km above Earth. At this geosynchronous orbit, the satellite will match Earth’s rotational speed.

At over 2,300 kg, EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite ever carried by a GSLV rocket.

The satellite has been described by one of the senior scientists involved in the mission as “the eye in the sky”. It is designed to provide real-time imagery and help the country in areas including agriculture and disaster management.

ISRO chief V Narayanan said the satellite had been injected into the required orbit accurately.

“I am very happy to announce that the GSLV F-17 vehicle has successfully and precisely injected the advanced EOS-05 geo imaging satellite in the intended and required orbit.”

“This is the 107th launch from Srihariharikota and the 19th mission of GSLV,” the Secretary, Department of Space, flanked by key scientists involved in the mission, said soon after the launch.

Narayanan recalled that the first GSLV launch, GSLV-D1, carried a payload of 1,536 kg. Since then, ISRO has gradually improved the vehicle’s performance by optimising structural mass and improving propulsion systems.

“Today, we have injected the heaviest satellite 2,367 kg using this launch vehicle.”

Once operationalised, EOS-05 will become India’s first dedicated imaging satellite from the geo-orbit, providing “strategic data” for the country, Narayanan said.

Quoting satellite data, he confirmed that all systems were operating perfectly well and that the solar panel had been successfully deployed.

“The health of satellite is perfectly alright,” he said.

“This is a great achievement for our country’s space programme because this is the first EOS that will be placed on the geo platform for the national activities.”

Narayanan said orbit-raising manoeuvres would be carried out in the coming days to elevate the satellite to the required orbit and place it on the geo platform. He added that the success was the culmination of teamwork between ISRO and its industrial partners.

Mission Director Thomas Kurien said the mission carried a uniquely configured EOS satellite capable of near real-time imaging.

“It is the heaviest satellite ever launched by GSLV into a GTO or sub-GTO orbit,” he added.

Project Director (Satellite) Imteyaz Ahamad described EOS-05 as a unique, one-of-its-kind satellite with multi-band operating capabilities.

“It is a complex satellite in terms of configuration, content and capability.”

The launch followed a smooth 27-hour countdown that began at 23.30 hours on Wednesday.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2.55 AM on Friday from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Rain and the pre-dawn launch time did not deter members of the public, with many people turning up with umbrellas to watch and cheer the launch.

The three-stage, 51.7-metre Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle has a cryogenic third stage. The rocket has a lift-off mass of 420.5 tonne, with the heavy satellite enclosed in its nose cone.

The GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission is said to be a replacement for the unsuccessful GSLV-F-10/EOS-03 mission of 2021.

During that mission, an onboard computer aborted the flight at 307 seconds. A probe into the post-flight data indicated that an anomaly in the Cryogenic Upper Stage had led to the mission failure, according to ISRO.

The latest launch also followed ISRO’s first launch failure of 2026.

On January 12, ISRO’s PSLV-C62 rocket, carrying 16 satellites, failed to place them into the intended orbit after encountering an “anomaly” in the critical third stage of the launch.

The successful GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission was welcomed by the Congress, which described it as a significant achievement for India’s space programme.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the launch would strengthen India’s Earth observation capabilities.

“Congratulations to the entire @isro team on the successful GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission! EOS-05, India’s first imaging satellite, from Geosynchronous orbit, will further strengthen our Earth Observation capabilities that we have been developing for years.”

“We are immensely proud of our scientists, space engineers and researchers whose dedication and ingenuity continue to take India’s space programme to greater heights,” the Congress chief said.

Kharge said the Congress party has always remained deeply committed to scientific temper and space research.

“The makers of modern India laid the foundations of our space programme with vision and foresight, and generations of our scientists have built upon that legacy with remarkable achievements,” Kharge said.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that after a relatively quiet period, ISRO successfully launched its GSLV rocket from Sriharikota early Friday morning to put an advanced Earth-imaging satellite weighing 2367 kg into orbit.

“This is yet another landmark achievement and will add to the nation’s strategic capabilities. It will also undoubtedly be a big morale booster to ISRO since it has found itself under attack from various quarters,” Ramesh said on X.

“The entire nation should salute ISRO’s deep resilience and wish it all success in coming endeavours, whatever those may be, under the radical role reconfiguration taking place at the instance of the PMO that will change the very character of this inspirational public institution that has done the country proud for decades in the face of tremendous odds,” the Congress leader said on X.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also congratulated the ISRO team.

“Your remarkable work and dedication continue to take India’s space journey to new heights. A proud moment for every Indian! Jai Hind,” she said.

The Congress last month had accused the Modi government of “strangulating and emasculating” ISRO and criticised it for pursuing an “aggressive privatisation agenda” for the space programme.

Ramesh had said there had been news reports in the past couple of days about ISRO’s future role in the country’s space programme.

“This has raised legitimate concerns given its capacities, capabilities, and competencies built up so methodically and painstakingly over the past six decades thanks to the vision, dedication, and leadership of Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Brahm Prakash, UR Rao, APJ Abdul Kalam, and so many other distinguished scientists and technologists,” Ramesh had said on X.

Ramesh had claimed that the Modi government has an “aggressive privatisation agenda” for the space programme just as it had for nuclear energy.

Days before the launch, ISRO chairman V Narayanan had visited the Tirumala Tirupati Lord Venkateshwara Swamy temple and prayed for the mission’s success.

The successful EOS-05 launch gives ISRO its first success of 2026 and marks another step in the country’s Earth observation and strategic space capabilities.