EOS-01

Subject : Space Technology

Context : India would launch its latest earth observation satellite EOS-01 and nine international customer spacecraft onboard its PSLV-C49 rocket from the spaceport of Sriharikota.

Concept :

This is the first launch by the Indian Space Research Organisation since the COVID-19-induced lockdown came into force in March.

• EOS-01 is intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.
• The customer satellites are being launched under commercial agreement with New Space India Limited (NSIL), Department of Space.

Earth Observation Satellites

• These satellites are used for observing the earth’s surface and as a result they are often termed geographical satellites. India’s IRS and RESOURCESAT are part of this.
• The data is used for several applications covering agriculture, water resources, urban development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, drought and flood forecasting, ocean resources and disaster management.
• Using these satellites it is possible to see many features that are not obvious from the earth’s surface, or even at the altitudes at which aircraft fly.
• Using these earth observation satellites many geographical features have become obvious and they have even been used in mineral search and exploitation.