ISRO on Friday scripted another milestone in India’s space programme with the successful launch of EOS-05, the country’s first dedicated Earth observation imaging satellite to be placed in a geosynchronous orbit, using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).The launch marked the space agency's maiden success for the year 2026.The over 2,300-kg satellite was successfully injected into its intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit about 18 minutes after liftoff, marking the Indian Space Research Organisation’s first successful launch of 2026.The mission was also the first success for the GSLV since the 2021 failure of the GSLV-F10/EOS-03 mission and comes nearly eight months after the previous GSLV launch.Also read: Isro returns to the launch pad: The satellite lost in 2021, and the second attempt at itIn a precise, textbook launch, the 51.7-metre-tall GSLV-F17 lifted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2.55 am, following a smooth 27.5-hour countdown. The rocket rose into the pre-dawn sky trailing bright orange flames, carrying the 2,367-kg EOS-05 satellite inside its nose cone.About 18 minutes after liftoff, the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and was successfully placed into the intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.The satellite will subsequently undergo orbit-raising manoeuvres before being placed in its final geosynchronous orbit, around 36,000 km above the Earth. At that altitude, the satellite’s orbital period synchronises with the Earth’s rotation, allowing it to remain over the same region.Dubbed the “eye in the sky” by a senior scientist involved in the mission, EOS-05 is designed to provide near real-time imagery and repeated observations of India and neighbouring regions. It is expected to support applications including agriculture, disaster management, cyclone monitoring, disaster warnings and the monitoring of cloudbursts and thunderstorms.Once operationalised, EOS-05 will become India’s first dedicated imaging satellite operating from the geosynchronous orbit and will provide “strategic data” for the country, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said.“I am very happy to announce that the GSLV-F17 vehicle has successfully and precisely injected the advanced EOS-05 geo-imaging satellite into the intended and required orbit,” Narayanan said after the launch at the Mission Control Centre.“This is the 107th launch from Sriharikota and the 19th mission of GSLV,” he said.Also read: ISRO begins countdown for GSLV-F17 launch with Earth observation satelliteNarayanan, who is also the secretary of the Department of Space, highlighted the evolution of the GSLV since its first flight.“The first launch of GSLV was done with a payload of 1,536 kg. From that, gradually, we have improved the performance of this vehicle by optimising the structural mass and improving the propulsion systems. Today, we have injected the heaviest satellite, a 2,367-kg satellite, using this launch vehicle,” he said.The 420.5-tonne GSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle, with its third stage powered by a cryogenic engine. The rocket is equipped with a 4-metre-diameter ogive composite payload fairing.Mission Director Thomas Kurien said the mission carried a uniquely configured Earth observation satellite capable of near real-time imaging.“It is the heaviest satellite ever launched by GSLV into a GTO or sub-GTO orbit,” he said.Project Director (Satellite) Imteyaz Ahamad described EOS-05 as a unique satellite with multi-band operating capabilities.“It is a complex satellite in terms of configuration, content and capability,” he said.Narayanan said all the satellite systems were functioning normally after separation and confirmed that its solar panel had been successfully deployed.“The health of the satellite is perfectly alright,” he said.“In the coming days, we will raise the orbit and take it to the required orbit and place the satellite in the geo platform,” he added.The mission’s success is particularly significant for ISRO after a series of setbacks involving its launch vehicles. The GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission is a replacement for the GSLV-F10/EOS-03 mission, which failed shortly after liftoff on August 12, 2021.An onboard computer had aborted the 2021 mission 307 seconds into the flight. A subsequent analysis of post-flight data indicated that an anomaly in the cryogenic upper stage had led to the failure, according to ISRO.The latest success also comes after the failure of the PSLV-C62 mission on January 12 this year. The rocket, carrying 16 satellites, failed to place them in their intended orbits after encountering an anomaly in the vehicle’s critical third stage.Friday’s launch therefore served as an important morale boost for the space agency.“This is a great achievement for our country’s space programme because this is the first Earth observation satellite which is going to be placed on the geo platform for national activities,” Narayanan said.He attributed the success to the teamwork of ISRO, its industrial partners and academia.“This success is a culmination of the teamwork of the entire ISRO, along with the industrial partners and academia, which has provided a lot of support. Also, this success is because of the work culture and vibrant review mechanism of ISRO,” he said.The mission objective is to provide real-time imaging of large areas at frequent intervals for rapid monitoring of natural disasters and episodic events. The satellite will also help obtain spectral signatures for applications in agriculture, forestry and the monitoring of water bodies.The previous GSLV mission was GSLV-F16/NISAR, launched on July 30, 2025. NISAR, a joint mission developed by ISRO and NASA, is designed to image global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea ice and selected ocean areas, every 12 days.Friday’s launch followed a gap of nearly eight months. Despite the unusual pre-dawn launch and rain, members of the public gathered at the space centre with umbrellas to watch the rocket take off.Narayanan said ISRO has planned six more missions during the current financial year, including the launch of a navigation satellite from Sriharikota.