ISRO Successfully Launches First Imaging Satellite for Geostationary Orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its first imaging satellite designed for geostationary orbit. The payload was placed into its planned orbit by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket. ISRO reported that all onboard systems are working normally and that the satellite’s solar panel has been deployed successfully.

The satellite, designated EOS-05, has a launch mass of more than 2,300 kg, making it the heaviest spacecraft ever lifted into orbit by a GSLV rocket. Operating in geostationary orbit keeps the spacecraft fixed above a single point on the equator, enabling continuous monitoring of a chosen region from an altitude of roughly 35,786 kilometers.

The GSLV is India’s primary launch vehicle for high-altitude missions. By placing the record-weight EOS-05 into its intended orbit, ISRO demonstrated the rocket’s ability to carry heavier national payloads to geostationary orbit, a milestone for the agency’s Earth-observation and spaceflight capabilities. The successful mission also reinforces India’s independent access to high-altitude orbits.