Isro to launch 2 Earth observation satellites

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has commenced preparations to launch an earth observation satellite on board the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch

Vehicle)-F10 on August 12 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at the Sriharikota range in Nellore.

The launch of the satellite, named EOS-3, was scheduled for March 5 last year but was cancelled because of a technical glitch and the outbreak of

Covid-19 lockdown forced the ISRO to postpone the event further.

GSLV-F 10/EOS-03, if it launched, will be the third take-off from the spaceport this year.

The space organisation had launched PSLV-C51 with Brazil’s Amazonia01 and 18 other satellites on February 28 and Sounding Rocket RH-560 Sourex on March 12 this year.

The main objective of the RH-560 experiment was to study the coupling of the atmosphere- ionosphere system, 90 km to

500 km above the earth using in situ measurements and to establish the transition from wind to drift regime in the ionosphere.

As of now, with the situation slowly returning to normal after the second wave of Covid-19 and marked improvement in the attendance,

the workforce of Satish Dhawan Space Centre began the launch vehicle integration and stagewise checking of the GSLV-F10.

The EOS-03 satellite will be mounted on the launch vehicle after the completion of checking all parameters, said Sriharikota range officials adding that the launch is likely to be in the middle of August.

Weighing about 2,268 kg, GISAT-1, or EOS3, is the first state-of-the-art agile earth observation satellite which will be placed in a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit by the

GSLV-F10.

Subsequently, the satellite will reach the final geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km above Earth, using its onboard propulsion system.

A four-metre diameter Ogive shaped payload fairing is being flown for the first time in this GSLV flight, the fourteenth by the rocket.

EOS-03 will facilitate near real-time observation of the Indian subcontinent, under cloud free condition, at frequent intervals.

Engineers of ISRO said the next launch after

GSLV-F10/EOS-03 will be another another earth observation satellite —

EOS-04 — onboard the workhorse PSLV-C52 rocket and it is scheduled for September, a month later.