SRIHARIKOTA, India (Diya TV) — India successfully launched its GSLV Mark II rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth-observation satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre early Friday.
The rocket lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST on Sept. 4, or 5:25 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3. About 18 minutes later, the GSLV deployed EOS-05 into a sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit as planned.
The mission marked India’s first placement of an Earth-observation satellite into that type of orbit.
EOS-05 weighs about 2,367 kilograms, or 5,218 pounds, and is designed to collect Earth-imaging data. Such satellites can support environmental monitoring, mapping and research on changes to land and water.
The launch was the 13th flight of the GSLV Mark II, which first flew in 2010. Eleven of those missions have been successful.
The three-stage rocket stands about 52 meters, or 170 feet, tall and is designed to carry heavier satellites into high Earth orbits.
The GSLV Mark II succeeded the earlier GSLV Mark I, which flew six times between 2001 and 2010.
Friday’s mission adds to India’s expanding Earth-observation program and gives ISRO another successful flight for one of its primary launch vehicles.
Mission teams will now focus on positioning EOS-05 in its operational orbit and beginning satellite operations.
