ISRO’s Big Comeback: ‘Hawkeye’ Satellite Set for September 4 Launch
ISRO is set for a crucial return to the launch pad on September 4, with the space agency preparing to send EOS-5, formerly known as GISAT-1A, into orbit aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket. ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan confirmed the launch plan to NDTV.The mission comes nearly eight months since ISRO’s last launch and follows two consecutive PSLV setbacks. Once in orbit, EOS-5 will operate nearly 36,000 kilometres above Earth, giving India a powerful, continuous bird’s-eye view of its territory.India’s ‘Hawkeye’ in SpaceEOS-5 could become a powerful tool for watching rapidly changing events on the ground. The satellite is expected to repeatedly image India through the day, helping authorities monitor cyclones, floods, cloudbursts, forest fires and other emergencies almost in real time.For weather forecasters, disaster management teams, agricultural planners and security agencies, such frequent observations could prove invaluable. At a time when extreme weather events are becoming increasingly disruptive, having a persistent eye in the sky could significantly strengthen India’s ability to respond quickly.A Mission With History Behind ItThe upcoming launch also carries a reminder of a setback in India’s space journey. According to a report in NDTV, on August 12, 2021, an earlier GSLV mission carrying EOS-03, the original GISAT satellite, failed after the indigenous cryogenic upper stage developed a problem. The spacecraft was lost, and the ambitious Earth-observation capability had to wait.EOS-5 is effectively the successor to that mission. This time, however, ISRO has another reason for confidence. The GSLV Mk II, which will carry EOS-5, does not share engines or critical propulsion systems with the PSLV currently grounded for investigations following its two failures.A Packed Road AheadEOS-5 is only the beginning of ISRO’s ambitious plans. Dr Narayanan said the agency is targeting seven launches between now and March 2027, including G1, the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan human-spaceflight programme. For the current financial year, ISRO is aiming to launch 12 satellites and conduct eight launch-vehicle missions, covering communication, navigation, Earth observation and scientific research.The GSLV Mk II also recently helped launch NISAR, the landmark NASA-ISRO Earth-observation mission, demonstrating the vehicle’s growing reliability and India’s progress in mastering complex cryogenic propulsion.For ISRO, therefore, September 4 is not simply another launch date. It is a chance to turn a difficult chapter into a new beginning—and put India’s ‘Hawkeye’ back in the sky.
