ISRO’s PSLV set for 101st flight on May 18, to launch satellite EOS-09 for all-weather Earth imaging

ISRO is ready for the launch of its 101st mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), scheduled for the early hours of May 18. 

More details about the satellite launch

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C61 is also known as Earth Observatory Satellite (EOC)-09. 

The PSLV-C61 will carry the Earth observation satellite EOS-09 into orbit, enabling India to a high-resolution, all-weather Earth imaging. This is one of the heaviest satellites developed by the team, which weighs around 1700kg.

The satellite would play a significant role in agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, and national security.

As reported, the lift-off is scheduled for 5:59 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

All the payloads have been moved from the integration facility to the mobile service towers on Thursday for integration, to facilitate the launch.

🛰️ ISRO prepares for its 101st Launch mission

🚀 PSLV-C61 set to deploy EOS-09

📅 18 May 2025 | 5:59 AM IST |
📍 FLP, SDSC SHAR

📺 Watch Live from 5:29 AM https://t.co/cJ4NwoMeaU#ISRO #ISRO101 #PSLVC61

— ISRO (@isro) May 16, 2025

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ISRO chief speaks up

ISRO chairman V. Narayanan said the all-weather satellite will closely observe the Earth exclusively for Indian applications and will capture high-resolution images.

The launch is also a milestone for the Indian space sector during the Indo-Pak conflict, with around 10 Indian satellites closely watching and helping the Indian defence sector.

Former ISRO scientist Manish Purohit commented that EOS-09 would serve as a follow-on to the earlier RISAT-1 mission. “This launch is strategically timed," he said.

"It strengthens monitoring at borders and coasts, particularly with respect to sensitive areas. The satellite can detect ingress or suspicious movement deemed vital in anti-terror operations, especially after the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor," he added. 

Earlier, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan had mentioned the importance of satellite technology in national security and governance, stating, "With the PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission, ISRO continues to demonstrate its commitment to both technological excellence and the national interest."

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