ISRO successfully launches earth observation satellite EOS-01

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched earth observation satellite EOS-01 as primary satellite and 9 customer satellites aboard PSLV-C49 at 3.12 pm on November 7, 2020 from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. 

EOS-01 was successfully injected into its orbit 15 minutes and 20 seconds after the launch. The nine commercial satellites were also subsequently injected into their intended orbits.

#EOS01 successfully separated from fourth stage of #PSLVC49 and injected into orbit#ISRO pic.twitter.com/2u5jBPGNQD

— ISRO (@isro) November 7, 2020

#ISRO #EOS01

All nine customer satellites successfully separated and injected into their intended orbit#PSLVC49 pic.twitter.com/rrtL3sVAI3

— ISRO (@isro) November 7, 2020

After separation, the two solar arrays of EOS-01 were deployed automatically and ISRO's Telemetry Tracking and Command Network at Bengaluru assumed control of the satellite. The satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration in the coming days. 

Significance

EOS-01's launch marks ISRO's first launch since the COVID-19 lockdown came into force in March. ISRO Chairman K Sivan had informed in June that at least ten space missions, scheduled for launch this year,  have been disturbed due to the lockdown. 

ISRO Chairman K Sivan was quoted saying after the launch that the mission was extremely special and unusual, as space activity cannot be done from 'work from home'. Hence, each engineer had to be present at the lab and had to work together, he added. 

This mission is very special and unusual for ISRO. The space activity cannot be done from 'work from home'. Each engineer has to be present at the lab. When talking about missions like these, each technician, employee has to work together: ISRO Chief K Sivan
(file pic) https://t.co/w827il7fJJ pic.twitter.com/JcB29msDxb

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2020

Prime Minister congratulated ISRO for the successful launch of PSLV-C49/EOS-01 Mission. He tweeted saying that in the time of COVID-19, our scientists overcame many constraints to meet the deadline.

I congratulate @ISRO and India's space industry for the successful launch of PSLV-C49/EOS-01 Mission today. In the time of COVID-19, our scientists overcame many constraints to meet the deadline.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020

Launch: Key Details

•The EOS-01 satellite is an earth observation satellite that will support applications in agriculture and forestry and disaster management. 

•The nine customer satellites were launched along with ISRO's primary satellite under a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). 

• Among the nine customer satellites, one belonged to Lithuania, four to Luxembourg and four to the United States of America. 

•This was the 51st mission of ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

•The launch viewing gallery was closed for the launch and there was no preparations for the gathering of media personnel in the view of strict COVID-19 pandemic norms at the launch centre.

Background

In June 2020, ISRO Chairman K Sivan had said that ISRO will assess the impact of the lockdown on its missions. He had shared that all missions had gotten disturbed because of the pandemic, He said that they will have to make an assessment after the COVID-19 issue is resolved.