New Delhi, May 17. India is poised to mark a major milestone in its space journey as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) gears up for its 101st mission. Scheduled for lift-off at 5:59 AM IST on Sunday, the PSLV-C61 rocket will launch the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09 from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
The mission will deploy EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), enhancing India’s remote sensing capabilities for a variety of operational applications, including agriculture, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.
PSLV-C61 represents the 63rd flight of ISRO’s reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 27th in its extended PSLV-XL configuration. The four-stage launcher, standing 44.5 meters tall and weighing 321 tonnes at lift-off, is equipped with six solid strap-on boosters.
EOS-09, carrying a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, weighs 1696.24 kg and is designed for a mission life of five years. In line with ISRO’s growing commitment to sustainable space practices, the satellite includes deorbiting fuel for safe post-mission disposal.
Following satellite deployment, ISRO will activate Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) to lower the altitude of the PS4 stage, which will then be passivated to minimize orbital debris – a step reflecting responsible space operations.
This launch further solidifies India’s position in the global space community as a leader in cost-effective and sustainable satellite missions.
