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ISRO launched the 2,367-kg EOS-05 aboard GSLV-F17 at 2:55 am on 4 September 2026 from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
EOS-05 is India's first dedicated imaging satellite meant for a geosynchronous orbit, enabling near-continuous watch over the Indian landmass.
It is the heaviest payload a GSLV has placed into a transfer orbit; injection into sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit came about 18 minutes after lift-off.
The indigenous cryogenic upper stage overperformed, reaching an apogee of about 31,026 km and potentially extending the satellite's life.
The success follows the failure of the EOS-03 mission on GSLV-F10 in August 2021, when the cryogenic upper stage did not ignite.
A geosynchronous orbit has a period equal to Earth's rotation, so the satellite returns to the same point in the sky each day. A geostationary orbit is the special case that is circular AND equatorial, so the satellite appears fixed over one spot.
Simple Analogy: Same clock, different path — one traces a figure of eight, the other stands still.
India's national space agency, founded in 1969; functions under the Department of Space, which reports directly to the Prime Minister.
ISRO's launch complex, with two operational launch pads; GSLV-F17 flew from the Second Launch Pad.
Develops India's liquid and cryogenic propulsion, including the CE-7.5 cryogenic engine that powers the GSLV Mk II upper stage.
GSLV mission failure — an early setback for the vehicle.
GSLV-D3, the first flight with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage, fails after the fuel turbo pump stops.
Another GSLV failure, deepening the vehicle's reliability problem.
GSLV-F10 carrying EOS-03 (GISAT-1) fails when the cryogenic upper stage does not ignite.
GSLV-F17 successfully places EOS-05 into sub-GTO with the cryogenic stage overperforming.
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An elliptical parking orbit with apogee below geosynchronous altitude, from which the satellite raises itself using its own propulsion.
A rocket stage burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen at very low temperatures; the GSLV Mk II uses the indigenous CE-7.5 engine.
Imaging across many narrow contiguous wavelength bands, allowing materials and crop conditions to be distinguished by their spectral signature.
The point in an orbit farthest from Earth; EOS-05's transfer orbit apogee was about 31,026 km.