Imagine looking down at India from high up in space and seeing everything clearly, even when thick clouds cover the sky. That is exactly what India's new satellite, GISAT-1A (also called EOS-05), will do. The launch, which is expected to take place in the next one or two weeks, comes as a replacement for GISAT-1 (EOS-03), which was lost more than four-and-a-half years ago due to a problem during its launch in 2021.
This 2.2-tonne satellite will sit in a geostationary orbit, meaning it stays fixed above the same spot over the Earth. From there, it can watch the Indian sub-continent almost all the time in near real-time. Normal satellites in lower orbits pass over an area only a few times a day, but this one gives a constant view like a watchful eye in the sky.
Rather than abandoning the programme after the setback, ISRO undertook extensive design reviews, system-level corrections, and validation exercises to ensure mission robustness, reflecting the agency’s methodical approach to complex space systems.
What makes it special? “It can see through clouds using special instruments. It captures not just normal pictures but spectral signatures — different kinds of light reflections that reveal hidden details. Farmers can use this data to check crop health and predict yields. Forest officials can monitor tree cover and spot illegal cutting. Miners look for mineral deposits, weather experts study clouds better, and teams track snow on mountains, melting glaciers, and even ocean changes. In disasters like floods or cyclones, it sends quick warnings and helps rescue teams see what is happening right away,” explained space analyst Girish Linganna.
The satellite has completed all major tests at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. It is now ready to travel to the launch site at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This move might happen very soon, perhaps this week. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the satellite is still under final review. Only after his approval and green signal will it head to the spaceport.
From GEO, GISAT-1A will be capable of imaging selected regions every five minutes and covering the entire Indian landmass approximately every thirty minutes, allowing near real-time monitoring of rapidly evolving natural and human-induced phenomena.
“At the heart of the mission is an advanced optical payload featuring a 700-mm Ritchey Chrétien telescope mounted on a modified I-2K satellite bus. The imaging system integrates multispectral and hyperspectral sensors operating across the visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared bands. Multispectral imaging offers a ground resolution of about 42 metres, while hyperspectral observations provide resolutions ranging from roughly 191 to 318 metres across hundreds of narrow spectral channels. This combination enables detailed analysis of vegetation health, crop stress, soil moisture, mineral composition, snow and glacier dynamics, coastal processes, and atmospheric conditions,” said Srimathy Kesan, the founder and CEO of SpaceKidz India Limited.
Beyond civilian applications, GISAT-1A holds strategic importance. “While ISRO maintains that the mission’s primary focus is on civilian and developmental uses, including agriculture, forestry, water resource management, urban planning, and disaster mitigation, the ability to frequently and persistently image sensitive regions also enhances national security and situational awareness. The satellite’s data will support faster decision-making during emergencies and improve preparedness across multiple sectors,” added Kesan.
ISRO is taking extra care this time — and with good reason. Just last month, on January 12, 2026, the PSLV-C62 mission failed during its third stage, leading to the loss of the important DRDO satellite EOS-N1 (Anvesha) and 15 other small satellites. That came only eight months after the PSLV-C61 failure in May 2025, where the third stage did not perform properly, costing the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) radar imaging satellite needed for strategic surveillance. These back-to-back setbacks have put huge pressure on ISRO's most trusted rocket, the PSLV, and raised serious questions about quality checks. On top of that, the 2021 GSLV-F10 failed when the cryogenic upper stage (CUS) — the engine using super-cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen — did not ignite after a perfect liftoff on August 12 at 5:43 am. The mission ended, and GISAT-1 was gone forever. Before that, the launch was postponed twice: once in March 2020 at the last minute, and again in early 2021 due to a small power issue.
These recent losses hurt deeply, especially for defence, science, and international partners. That is why ISRO is doing very strict checks now, with multiple reviews and no room for error, to make sure this GSLV-F17 mission succeeds.
“The GSLV rocket has bounced back strong. After the 2021 failure, it completed four successful missions. The latest was GSLV-F16, which launched the NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite on July 30, 2025. For this mission, ISRO has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) — a warning to pilots and airlines about the launch zone. It covers February 20 to March 5, 2026, for the GSLV-F17 mission carrying GISAT-1A. These dates are tentative; space missions often shift a bit if needed for perfect conditions or last checks,” remarked Linganna.
This launch will boost India's independent ability to monitor its land, weather, and resources from space. It shows how ISRO learns from setbacks, fixes problems, and keeps pushing forward with determination. Soon, we may see clearer, faster updates on everything from farms to floods — all thanks to this high-tech eye in the sky.
