Sriharikota: It’s another big night for ISRO. The space agency is getting ready to send its GSLV-F17 rocket into the sky in the early hours of Friday, carrying the EOS-05 satellite. The launch is scheduled for 2:55 am on September 4 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission comes at an important time for ISRO. After a few recent setbacks, a successful GSLV flight could give the agency a much needed confidence boost.
But the rocket itself is no stranger to drama. The GSLV Mk II has earned the nickname “Naughty Boy” because of its mixed record in the past. Six of its first 18 flights did not achieve full mission success. Friday’s launch will be its 19th flight.
This time, the rocket is carrying EOS-05, an Earth observation satellite that is different from most of India’s imaging satellites. It is designed to operate from a geosynchronous orbit, roughly 36,000 km above Earth, allowing it to keep watching large areas for long periods instead of simply passing over them.
That could make the satellite useful for a range of purposes, including weather monitoring, tracking cyclones and other disasters, environmental observation and strategic applications.
There is also a piece of unfinished business behind this mission. In August 2021, ISRO’s GSLV-F10 mission carrying the EOS-03 satellite failed after the cryogenic upper stage developed a problem and did not perform as planned. The upcoming mission is therefore being watched closely.
GSLV-F17 will first place EOS-05 into a Sub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The satellite will then use its own propulsion system to move towards its final operational orbit.
It is worth remembering that the GSLV and PSLV are not the same rocket. While recent PSLV problems have attracted attention, the GSLV Mk II belongs to a different launch vehicle family and uses a different propulsion configuration.
For ISRO, therefore, Friday morning is about more than putting another satellite into orbit. A clean GSLV-F17 mission would strengthen confidence in the rocket, demonstrate the reliability of its indigenous cryogenic technology and give India a valuable new Earth observation capability.
The countdown is underway. Now, the question is whether ISRO’s famously unpredictable “Naughty Boy” will behave itself when it matters most.
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