ISRO’s PSLV Set For 101st Flight On May 18, To Launch EOS-09 For All-Weather Earth Imaging (VIDEO)

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the launch of its 101st mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), scheduled for the early hours of May 18. The PSLV-C61 will carry the Earth observation satellite EOS-09 into orbit, enhancing India’s capability in high-resolution, all-weather Earth imaging.

The satellite is expected to play a vital role in strategic sectors including agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, and national security. Lift-off is scheduled for 5:59 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

Have a look at the post here:

Watch this incredible timelapse of PSLV-C61 / EOS-09 as it rolls from the Payload Integration Facility (PIF) to the Mobile Service Tower (MST) at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota — a crucial step in #ISRO’s 101st launch mission.

Each frame captures the precision, teamwork & engineering… pic.twitter.com/KjAm7ncVee

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) May 16, 2025

Satellite to Boost Surveillance and Civil Applications

EOS-09 is equipped with a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which enables it to capture images regardless of cloud cover or time of day. The satellite will be placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit, ideal for consistent Earth observation.

Once operational, the satellite will supply critical imaging data for various civilian and strategic applications. The previous Earth observation satellite, EOS-08, was launched aboard the SSLV-D2 in August last year.

The PSLV-C61 was moved on Thursday from the Payload Integration Facility to the Mobile Service Tower for final checks and integration ahead of launch.

Gaganyaan Abort Test and NISAR Launch Next on ISRO’s Agenda

This mission is part of a busy launch calendar for ISRO. Coming up is the TV-D2 mission, which will test the crew escape system as part of preparations for India’s maiden human spaceflight, Gaganyaan. The test will also demonstrate sea recovery operations for the crew module.

ISRO is also preparing for the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard the GSLV-F16. NISAR will study changes in Earth’s surface, ecosystems, and natural disasters using dual-band radar systems from both agencies.

Meanwhile, India’s space manufacturing capabilities are also set to grow, with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signing a deal with HAL and L&T to build five PSLVs. The first such industry-built rocket is expected to launch later this year, according to Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh.

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