PM Modi hails ISRO’s GSLV-F17 launch carrying EOS-05 as proud moment for India

September 4, 2026

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, calling the achievement a proud moment for the country and highlighting India’s growing capabilities in the space sector.

Taking to social media platform X, Modi described the launch as another major achievement for ISRO and said the mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space programme.

“Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation,” Modi said, adding that the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 demonstrated India’s growing strength in space technology.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the expanding partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was adding greater strength and scale to the country’s space programme and broadening India’s capabilities across the space ecosystem.

GSLV-F17 launches EOS-05 into intended orbit

The GSLV-F17 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 2:55 a.m. IST on Friday in a pre-dawn launch.

The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit, marking another significant achievement for India’s operational launch programme.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission’s outcome, saying the GSLV-F17 precisely injected the advanced Earth observation satellite into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as an important milestone for the GSLV programme. The mission marked the 19th flight of the GSLV and carried a specially configured Earth observation satellite designed to provide near-real-time imaging.

Kurian also said EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite placed by GSLV into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit, crediting years of preparation and the efforts of scientists, engineers and other teams involved in the mission.

EOS-05 to strengthen India’s Earth observation capabilities

The EOS-05 mission is aimed at strengthening India’s Earth observation capabilities through advanced imaging and observation applications.

The satellite is expected to provide a continuous view of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

According to Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, EOS-05 is a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite and India’s first imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit.

He said the satellite will enable advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands, expanding India’s ability to collect and use Earth observation data.

GSLV-F17 adds to India’s growing space capabilities

The GSLV-F17 launch vehicle stands 51.7 metres tall and has a liftoff mass of approximately 420.5 tonnes, making it one of India’s major operational launch systems.

Jitendra Singh also welcomed the successful mission, saying India’s space programme continues to achieve new milestones and strengthen the country’s position as a major global space power.

The successful deployment of EOS-05 further demonstrates India’s growing capability to develop advanced satellites and place heavier payloads into higher orbits, while the increasing involvement of domestic industry is helping expand the country’s wider space ecosystem.