Key Facts & Technical Specifications
EOS-05 Mission Overview
- Full Name: Earth Observation Satellite-05
- Mass: 2,367 kg
- Orbit: Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) at ~36,000 km altitude
- Launch Vehicle: GSLV-F17 (19th operational flight of GSLV)
- Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
- Designation: "Eye in the Sky"
GSLV-F17 Launch Vehicle Details
- Configuration: Three-stage launch vehicle
- First Stage: Solid core with four liquid strap-on boosters
- Second Stage: Liquid propulsion
- Third Stage: Indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS)
- Milestone: Heaviest payload successfully injected by standard GSLV configuration
Background & Context
India's Earth Observation Satellite Program
India has been operating satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for Earth observation. EOS-05 represents a strategic shift to geosynchronous orbit, enabling continuous monitoring capabilities previously unavailable with LEO satellites.
Why Geosynchronous Orbit?
- LEO limitation: Satellites pass over specific areas in minutes, creating blind spots of hours or days
- GEO advantage: Provides continuous persistence and unblinking, wide-area view
- Coverage: Single GEO satellite observes nearly one-third of the globe
- Real-time tracking: Enables hourly updates for rapidly evolving events
Satellite Orbit Classifications
| Orbit Type | Altitude Range | Orbital Period | Key Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEO | 160-2,000 km | 90-120 minutes | High-resolution imaging, ISS, broadband constellations |
| MEO | 2,000-35,786 km | 2-24 hours | GNSS (GPS, Galileo) |
| GEO | ~35,786 km | 23h 56m 4s | Communications, weather monitoring, continuous observation |
GEO vs Geostationary Orbit
- Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO): Orbital period equals Earth's rotation
- Geostationary Orbit (GEO): Zero-degree inclination over equator; appears fixed from ground
Significance for India
Strategic Applications
- Disaster Management: Monitoring cyclones, cloudbursts, flash floods, forest fires
- Surveillance: Border and maritime security
- Agricultural Monitoring: Vegetation assessment, crop-cycle monitoring
- Environmental Monitoring: Continuous Earth observation capabilities
Technical Milestones
- First dedicated imaging satellite in GEO
- Heaviest GSLV payload
- Indigenous cryogenic technology demonstration
Previous Year UPSC Questions Reference
Prelims 2018: PSLV vs GSLV capabilities, satellite appearance from ground Mains 2023: Virtual Launch Control Centre, spacecraft subsystems Mains 2019: India's space station plans Mains 2016: Space science achievements and socio-economic benefits