India successfully places Earth-imaging satellite in geosynchronous orbit

India’s national space agency launched a rocket Friday carrying an Earth-imaging satellite, successfully placing it into orbit.

“Mission Success! GSLV-F17 has successfully accomplished its mission, placing EOS-05 into the intended orbit,” the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced in a post on the US social media platform X.

The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern India at 2.55 a.m. local time (2125GMT Thursday).

GSLV-F17 marks the 19th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and EOS-05 is a state-of-the-art Earth observation spacecraft, the space agency said.

It is India’s first ever imaging satellite designed to operate from a geosynchronous orbit, it said.

Following Friday’s successful launch, the space agency is targeting six more launches this year, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan told reporters.