ISRO’s space sentinel lifts off tomorrow

India’s space programme is poised to reach a significant milestone with its 101st mission, the launch of the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09) on May 18.

The satellite, equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, will deliver high-definition images for earth observation applications under all-weather conditions, significantly enhancing India’s surveillance capabilities.

An ISRO official said, “It strengthens monitoring at borders and coasts, particularly the sensitive areas. We can get high definition images irrespective of the clouds and rain or day and night. Designed for operational reliability, EOS-09 will support a wide range of sectors with its ability to scan large areas and switch to ultra-high-resolution imaging, capable of detecting even the smallest objects.”

The mission will use the PSLV-C61 launch vehicle, lifting off from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

The satellite will be placed into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) at approximately 450.790 km above Earth. This orbit allows consistent imagery for reconnaissance, weather pattern analysis and disaster monitoring, including floods and wildfires.