After 19 months of grounding and introspection, ISRO has made a emphatic comeback. At 2:55 am on Friday, GSLV-F17 roared off from Sriharikota's second launch pad and precisely injected the 2,367-kg EOS-05 into a sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit, 18 minutes after lift-off.
This is not just another satellite. EOS-05 is India's first dedicated imaging satellite designed to operate from geostationary orbit - 36,000 km above Earth. Unlike low-earth satellites that revisit a location after days, it will act as a permanent "Eye in the Sky", providing near real-time imagery for agriculture, forestry, environment monitoring, disaster management and strategic surveillance.
The mission carries huge symbolic weight. At 2,367 kg, it is the heaviest payload ever launched by GSLV, proving the vehicle's enhanced capability after structural and propulsion optimization. The vehicle was carrying the legacy of failure. GSLV-F10 in August 2021 had failed to place EOS-03, which EOS-05 now replaces. More recently, PSLV-C61 in May 2025 and PSLV-C62 in January 2026 carrying EOS-N1 had failed, forcing ISRO to halt launches in Q1 2026.
Chairman V. Narayanan said, "I am very happy to announce that GSLV-F17 has successfully and precisely injected EOS-05 into the intended orbit. We have injected the heaviest satellite using this launch vehicle." The agency confirmed all valves are operating perfectly, solar panels are deployed and satellite health is normal.
With a 9-year lifespan and multi-band imaging capability, EOS-05 will now be raised to its final geostationary slot. The success puts ISRO back on track for seven missions planned for early 2026, including strategic data support from geo-platform for "national activities."