SOURCE ; NEW18
Last Updated:May 17, 2025, 23:45 IST
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in its 63rd mission, would carry the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09)
PSLV-C61 marks the 63rd flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 27th using the PSLV-XL configuration. (X)
The countdown for the launch of an Earth imaging satellite onboard a PSLV rocket started in Bengaluru on Saturday, ISRO sources said.
The lift-off for the PSLV-C61 will take place at 5.59 am on Sunday, May 18, from the first launch pad at this space port on May 18, which is also the 101st mission for the ISRO.
Recommended Stories
“The countdown started by 7.59 am on Saturday. Total 22 hours countdown,” sources told news agency PTI.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is set for its 63rd mission, carrying the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09. This satellite can take high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface in all weather conditions.
It will capture images around the clock, which is important for areas like agriculture, forest monitoring, disaster response, urban planning, and national security.
In an update, ISRO said on its website: “12 hours to ISRO’s 101st space launch. PSLV-C61 is mission-ready.”
The EOS-09 satellite weighs about 1,696 kg and will join a group of other Earth Observation satellites to provide more real-time coverage across India.
EOS-09 (also known as RISAT-1B) is a newer version of the earlier RISAT-1 satellite and works alongside satellites from the Resourcesat, Cartosat, and RISAT-2B series.
It’s also a repeat version of EOS-04, which was launched in 2022. The satellite is meant to give regular remote sensing data to users involved in important real-world applications, and to improve how often such data is collected.
The PSLV-C61 rocket will take about 17 minutes to place EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). After that, scientists will use Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) to lower its orbit slightly.
The satellite is expected to work for 5 years. After its mission is over, ISRO has kept enough fuel to move it into a lower orbit where it will burn up within two years, helping to keep space free of debris.
- First Published:
May 17, 2025, 22:02 IST
