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Indian Space Research Organisation's advanced Earth observation spacecraft, India's first ever imaging satellite in geo-orbit was successfully launched from the spaceport in Sriharikota on Friday by a GSLV rocket.
Set to provide real-time imagery and help the nation in areas including agriculture, and disaster management, a GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the payload headed into the wide skies carrying the satellite, intended for delivery at the sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit (sub-GTO) in the wee hours.
Countdown Commenced on Wednesday
After the completion of a smooth 27-hour countdown, which commenced at 23.30 hours on Wednesday, the rocket, with a 2,367 kg payload mass, began its ascent on dot at 2.55 AM from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
The odd hour and rain could not deter the enthusiasm of members of public as many turned up to cheer the launch.
The EOS-05 satellite was successfully placed in the intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit, about 18 minutes after it lifted off from the spaceport here, ISRO announced.
'The Eye in The Sky' to Provide Real-time Imagery
"The eye in the sky," as one of the senior scientists involved in the mission described the satellite, is set to provide real-time imagery and help the nation in areas including agriculture, and disaster management.
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.
The GSLV-F-17 is the 19th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.
The 3-stage, 51.7 meter rocket, with its third stage being cryogenic, has a lift off mass of 420.5 tonne and the over-2,000 kg satellite is ensconced on the rocket 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.
