A Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F17) carrying the Earth observation satellite lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota at 2:55 a.m. local time (2125 UTC).
About 18 minutes after liftoff, ISRO announced that the satellite had been successfully injected into the intended orbit, declaring “Mission Success!” in a post on X.
Isro chairman V Narayanan said the rocket injected the satellite into the intended orbit precisely, adding that the mission marked the 107th launch from Sriharikota and the 19th GSLV flight.
“From launching 1536kg payload in the first GSLV launch, the chairman said the rocket has carried the heaviest payload in its history at 2367kg. We gradually improved the performance of the vehicle by optimising the structural mass and improving propulsion system. The satellite is India’s first dedicating imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. It will provide strategic data.”
Narayanan also said Isro would conduct six more launches during the financial year, including the NVS-03 navigation satellite and the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.
The launch was the first GSLV mission since GSLV-F16 successfully placed the joint Nasa-Isro NISAR Earth observation satellite into a 743-km sun-synchronous orbit on July 30, 2025.
Friday’s mission was Isro’s second orbital launch of 2026, following the failure of PSLV-C62, which was carrying EOS-N1 and other payloads, after an anomaly toward the end of its third-stage flight on Jan. 12.