ISRO launches EOS-09 aboard PSLV-C61, boosting India's surveillance and remote sensing powers

Economic Times

18-05-2025

ANI ISRO crosses hundred mark: Launches its 101st satelite EOS-09 aboard PSLV-C61
At the break of dawn, a plume of fire lit up the skies above Sriharikota. At precisely 5:59am, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its 101st space mission, placing the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09 into a sun-synchronous polar orbit using the PSLV-C61 rocket.
Weighing 1696.24 kg and standing 44.5 metres tall, the PSLV-C61 lifted off from the First Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This was the 63rd PSLV mission, and the 27th using its XL configuration – a version known for handling heavier payloads.
"LIFTOFF! ISRO's 101st launch mission takes flight aboard PSLV-C61," ISRO posted on X. EOS-09 is a follow-up mission to EOS-04 and the earlier RISAT-1 satellite. It is designed to deliver consistent remote sensing data, especially for operational users needing real-time imagery. Former ISRO scientist Manish Purohit explained the satellite's broader implications. 'This launch is strategically timed,' he said.
'It strengthens monitoring at borders and coasts, particularly with respect to sensitive areas. The satellite can detect ingress or suspicious movement deemed vital in anti-terror operations, especially after the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor,' he added. The satellite uses C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), enabling it to take high-resolution images under all weather conditions, day or night. This makes it a powerful tool for sectors like agriculture, forestry, disaster management, and defence.Once deployed, the satellite's data will be available for users across sectors—agriculture, forestry, water resources, and strategic operations. Its imaging frequency is designed to be higher, offering a steadier stream of earth observation data.The launch is not only a technological feat. It also reflects growing emphasis on responsible space activity. After satellite separation—about 17.6 minutes post lift-off—the spent PS4 stage will undergo orbit-lowering via Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT). This reduces its orbital life, followed by passivation to prevent future explosions or debris.According to ISRO, EOS-09 carries sufficient fuel to de-orbit after completing its five-year mission. This means it will eventually lower itself to a decay orbit, ensuring re-entry into Earth's atmosphere within two years, leaving no lasting debris behind.Former ISRO scientist Manish Purohit remarked, "This launch is strategically timed." He added, "It strengthens monitoring at borders and coasts, particularly with respect to sensitive areas. The satellite can detect ingress or suspicious movement deemed vital in anti-terror operations, especially after the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor."Indian scientist Dr W. Selvamurthy acknowledged the larger impact of this mission. 'I would like to congratulate the ISRO scientists, technicians, industries associated with ISRO for this important satellite being launched tomorrow, early morning at 6 a.m., from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. It is a very important satellite because it forms a part of a constellation of satellites which can look at Earth and what changes are happening on Earth. For example, agriculture, forestry, disaster management, or even for strategic applications, for military applications, because it's very important to see the borders…'Echoing the sentiment, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said, "With the PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission, ISRO continues to demonstrate its commitment to both technological excellence and the national interest."IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Kumar Goenka also underlined the need to constantly evolve space capabilities.Meanwhile, ISRO is preparing for another significant mission—NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)—scheduled to launch aboard GSLV-F16. A collaboration with NASA, NISAR will monitor changes in Earth's surface and ecosystems and help track natural disasters, reinforcing India's growing role in global climate and environmental science.EOS-09 is powered by 2.4 kW and built for a five-year lifespan. It promises not only sharper eyes in the sky but also a stronger, more data-rich foundation for India's evolving space ambitions. From climate monitoring to defence surveillance, the satellite's reach extends across fields that touch every citizen.And so, in the early morning quiet of Sriharikota, another chapter in India's space story was written—one that looks downward to understand the Earth better, and forward to do so more responsibly.