Earth observation satellite EOS-05
Why in News?
ISRO successfully launched EOS-05 on 4 September 2026 at 2:55 AM IST aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andra Pradesh.
Launch Details & Orbit
- Launch Vehicle: GSLV-F17 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk II).
- Orbit Type: Placed in a high-altitude Geosynchronous Orbit approximately 36,000 km above Earth.
- Payload Fairing: For the first time, a 4-metre diameter ogive-shaped (bullet-shaped) composite payload fairing was used to accommodate the large satellite.
Satellite Specifications
- Weight: 2,367 kg, making it a state-of-the-art heavy imaging spacecraft.
- Nickname: Dubbed India's "Eye in the Sky" or "Hawk Eye" due to its powerful imaging capabilities.
- Core Technology: Equipped with multispectral and hyperspectral cameras capable of continuous imaging across visible, infrared, and thermal bands.
- Resolution: Capable of observing the Indian subcontinent with a spatial resolution of 40 metres.
Primary Objectives & Applications
- Real-Time Monitoring: Unlike Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that have days of delay before revisits, its geosynchronous position allows persistent, near-real-time imaging.
- Disaster Management: Designed to instantly track natural events like floods, cyclones, and forest fires to enable rapid emergency responses.
- Geopolitical & Border Security: Enhances continuous surveillance over the Indian landmass, oceans, and particularly sensitive border zones.
- Resource Mapping: Tracks structural and environmental changes in agriculture, water bodies, forestry, and glacier configurations.
