ISRO accelerating launch of Special Spy Satellite with Eyes on Pakistan: Dr. Jitendra Singh

By R Anil Kumar

• The Indian space agency is accelerating launch of a special spy satellite that can help protect and keep a sharp eye on India’s borders in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam: Dr. Jitendra Singh

• The EOS-09 satellite will be capable of imaging during day and night, said Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh. ISRO is planning to launch the satellite in the coming few weeks

Bengaluru. The Indian space agency, ISRO, is accelerating the launch of a special spy satellite that can help protect and keep a sharp eye on India’s borders.

In the wake of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam — that killed 26 people — the Indian space agency is accelerating the launch of a special spy satellite that can help protect and keep a sharp eye on India’s borders in all weather conditions.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to launch a special radar imaging satellite in the next few weeks. This satellite has the capability for imaging both during day and night, and it can also see through clouds.

It is very hard to hide assets on the ground from this bird in the sky, and hence it is often called a ‘spy satellite’.

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh, Speaking to R. Anil Kumar, on the sidelines of a programme in Bengaluru, said, ISRO will launch the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the state-of-the-art EOS-09 satellite, shortly.

“Equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar, EOS-09 will be capable of capturing high-resolution images of Earth’s surface under all weather conditions, day or night,” he said.

This radar imaging satellite has been made by Indian scientists and will be an addition to the existing constellation of about 55 satellites India already has in space.

India’s sophisticated Cartosat-3 satellite, which is already in service, can beam down images with a resolution of less than half a meter from its low Earth orbit. But this satellite gets blinded at night, and the enemy can move its assets. But the high-end EOS-9 can always find what the enemy is trying to hide, as it never gets blinded.

The ISRO chairman, Dr V Narayanan, told that the program to launch the workhorse rocket — the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) — with the radar imaging satellite is going on in a campaign mode with the target to launch it as soon as possible.

EOS-09 is an Indian RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) launched by ISRO, designed for all-weather surveillance using synthetic aperture radar (SAR). It’s part of a series of satellites equipped with C-band synthetic aperture radars that can capture high-resolution images of Earth’s surface, day or night, and through clouds. This satellite, along with other RISATs, is capable of providing continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering, especially during periods of conflict or instability.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Purpose:

EOS-09 is a reconnaissance satellite, primarily used for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

• Technology:

It utilizes a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) which allows it to image the Earth’s surface under all weather conditions, including during the day and night, and through cloud cover.

• Capabilities:

• • All-weather surveillance.
  • High-resolution imaging.
  • Day and night imaging capabilities.
  • Cloud penetration.

• Applications:

EOS-09 can be used for a variety of purposes, including monitoring military activities, border security, and disaster relief.

• Key Features:

The satellite is equipped with a flexible solar panel and other advanced technologies for optimal performance.

In essence, EOS-09 is a sophisticated tool for surveillance and intelligence gathering, enabling India to monitor events and activities on Earth, particularly in areas of strategic importance.

India Achieves Breakthrough in Gene Therapy for Haemophilia, Dr. Jitendra Singh Reviews BRIC-inStem Trials

“Not Just Science, It’s Nation-Building”: Jitendra Singh hails Biotech’s Role in Future Economy

From Lab to Life: Bengaluru’s BRIC-inStem Leads India’s Bio-Revolution with Gene Therapy, Regenerative Science

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh inspected the various facilities at BRIC-inStem and reviewed ongoing clinical trials in collaboration with premier medical institutes and hospitals, including the landmark first-in-human gene therapy trial for Haemophilia conducted with CMC Vellore. Calling it a “milestone in India’s scientific journey,” the Minister hailed the institute’s contributions to preventive and regenerative healthcare.

During his visit, Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the strategic importance of biotechnology in shaping India’s future economy and public health infrastructure. “This is not just about science—it’s about nation-building,” he said, commending the Department of Biotechnology’s (DBT) recent successes and its emergence from relative obscurity into national relevance.

India’s biotechnology sector has seen an extraordinary leap, growing 16-fold in the past decade to reach $165.7 billion in 2024, with a vision to touch $300 billion by 2030.

The Minister credited this growth to enabling policy reforms, including the recently approved BIO-E3 Policy that aims to boost economy, employment, and environment through biotechnology.

“We now have over 10,000 biotech startups compared to just 50 a decade ago,” he pointed out.

Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the creation of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) that unified 14 autonomous institutions under one umbrella.

“BRIC-inStem is at the cutting edge of fundamental and translational science,” he said, highlighting innovations like the germicidal anti-viral mask during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ‘Kisan Kavach’ that protects farmers from neurotoxic pesticides.

The  highlight of the visit was BRIC-inStem’s Biosafety Level III laboratory, a key national facility for studying high-risk pathogens under India’s One Health Mission. “The recent pandemic taught us that we must always be prepared. Facilities like this will help us stay a step ahead,” Dr. Jitendra Singh stated.

The Minister also praised the newly launched Centre for Research Application and Training in Embryology (CReATE), which addresses birth defects and infertility by advancing developmental biology research. “With about 3 to 4 percent of babies born with some form of defect, this centre is vital for improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes,” he said.

Calling for greater collaboration between scientific and medical institutions, he suggested that BRIC-inStem explore MD-PhD programs, integrate more with clinical research, and enhance visibility through coordinated communication strategies. “What’s being done here should echo across the country—not for publicity, but because the nation needs it,” he said.

Dr. Jitendra Singh concluded by noting that India’s economy of the future would be bio-driven, with institutions like BRIC-inStem serving as torchbearers of this transformation. “As Mark Twain said, the economy is too serious a subject to be left to economists alone. Biotechnology is not just a science anymore—it is a pillar of our national strategy.”