The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The launch, conducted on Friday, marks the third developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D3) and is a significant milestone for ISRO.
In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), ISRO announced the success of the SSLV-D3 mission, stating that the vehicle had precisely placed EOS-08 into orbit. This accomplishment signifies the successful completion of ISRO's SSLV Development Project. With this success, the Indian industry, in collaboration with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), will take over the production of SSLV for future commercial missions.
The countdown to the launch began at 2:47 am and lasted for approximately six-and-a-half hours. EOS-08 is designed to have a mission duration of one year and is built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus.
The satellite's primary mission objectives include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating compatible payload instruments, and incorporating new technologies essential for future operational satellites.
EOS-08 is equipped with three primary payloads: the Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry Payload (GNSS-R), and the SiC UV Dosimeter.
These payloads enable the satellite to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands during both day and night. The applications of these images are diverse, ranging from satellite-based surveillance and disaster monitoring to environmental monitoring, fire detection, and observing volcanic activity.
Additionally, the GNSS-R payload demonstrates the capability of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as analysing ocean surface winds, assessing soil moisture, studying the cryosphere over the Himalayan region, and detecting floods and inland water bodies.
The EOS-08 mission configuration operates in a Circular Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 475 km with an inclination of 37.4°. The satellite, weighing approximately 175.5 kg, is designed with advanced systems such as an Integrated Avionics system, which combines multiple functions into a single efficient unit. This system includes cold redundant components, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) elements, and supports up to 400 GB of data storage.
The satellite also features a structural panel embedded with a PCB, an embedded battery, a Micro-Dual Gimbal Antenna (Micro-DGA), a Phased Array Antenna (M-PAA), and a flexible solar panel, all of which are key components for the onboard technology demonstration.
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