Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
India achieved a major milestone in space technology as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the EOS-05 imaging satellite aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2:55 a.m. on Thursday.
EOS-05 is India's first imaging satellite positioned in a geosynchronous orbit, approximately 36,000 kilometers above Earth. Unlike conventional Earth observation satellites operating in low-Earth orbit, EOS-05 can continuously monitor India and surrounding regions from a fixed vantage point, enabling round-the-clock surveillance and data collection.
The satellite is expected to play a crucial role in monitoring strategic locations, including the India-Pakistan and India-China borders. It will also strengthen India's capabilities in disaster management by providing real-time observations of cyclones, floods, heavy rainfall, forest fires, and other natural calamities, helping authorities issue timely warnings and assess damage more efficiently.
EOS-05 carries two advanced multispectral imagers capable of capturing Earth’s surface in different wavelengths of light. These instruments can provide valuable information on vegetation, water bodies, land use patterns, and environmental changes. One of the imagers offers a resolution of 42 meters per pixel, making it suitable for large-area monitoring rather than detailed imaging of small objects.
Explaining the significance of the mission, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said the space agency aims to launch six more missions this year. The EOS-05 mission comes after an eight-month gap in ISRO launches and follows setbacks in missions conducted in January 2026 and March 2025.
A geosynchronous orbit, located about 35,786 kilometers above Earth, allows a satellite to complete one revolution every 24 hours, matching the planet’s rotation. This enables continuous observation of the same region. In contrast, satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), typically below 2,000 kilometers, move rapidly around Earth and can observe a particular location only for short periods.
With EOS-05 now operational, India gains an important asset for national security, environmental monitoring, and disaster preparedness, marking another significant advancement in the country's growing space program.
