GSLV‑F17’s 19th flight to carry India’s first geostationary imaging satellite

Bengaluru, Sept 3 – ISRO’s 19th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle‑F17 (GSLV‑F17) is set for an early‑morning launch on 4 September at 02:55 a.m. from SHAR’s second pad.

The payload, EOS‑05, will become India’s first dedicated geostationary‑orbit imaging satellite. After a sub‑geosynchronous transfer orbit injection, the satellite will raise itself to a 30,000‑km circular orbit, enabling constant monitoring of the same Earth region.

Former ISRO scientist Dr. B.R. Guruprasad highlighted three components of any launch: the mission identifier (EOS‑05), the launch vehicle (the tallest 17‑stage GSLV‑F17 rocket), and the satellite (a geostationary imaging platform).

The rocket’s architecture includes four liquid strap‑on boosters, a liquid‑fuel second stage and a cryogenic third stage, all protected by a heat‑shielded payload fairing. The same launcher delivered the NISAR SAR payload in July 2025.

EOS‑05’s advanced optics will feed weather forecasting agencies and disaster‑management teams with near‑real‑time imagery, strengthening India’s Earth‑observation capabilities.