ISRO launched EOS-05 satellite from Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation launched the EOS-05 satellite from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on September 4. It is India's first advanced geostationary imaging satellite, released at 02:55 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre via the GSLV-F17 rocket.

The launch was historic in many ways, witnessed by ISRO chief V Narayanan and several former chairpersons. The GSLV-F17 was the 19th flight of India's geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle. The rocket is approximately 51.7 meters long with a lift-off mass of about 420.5 tons. It was launched from the second launch pad at Sriharikota.

The rocket was fitted with a 4-meter diameter ogive composite payload fairing housing the EOS-05 satellite. Three hours after the launch, many astronomy enthusiasts gathered at the ISRO centre. The mission director announced the success of the launch 22 minutes after liftoff.

According to ISRO, the EOS-05 mission aims to place the satellite into a sub-geostationary transfer orbit to orbit the Earth and provide important data.