New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the Earth Observation Satellite-08 (EOS-08) aboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 on Independence Day, August 15, at 9:17 am. The launch, which will take place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, underscores India's growing capabilities in space exploration and satellite technology.
EOS-08 is designed to enhance environmental monitoring, disaster management, and support for the Gaganyaan mission, an India Today report stated. "It will complete the SSLV development project and will enable operational missions by Indian industry and NSIL," ISRO said in a statement.
The satellite carries three primary payloads: the Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and the SiC UV Dosimeter. The EOIR payload is engineered to capture images in both the Mid-Wave Infrared (MIR) and Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) bands, providing critical data for applications such as satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental observation, fire detection, volcanic activity tracking, and industrial disaster assessment.
The GNSS-R payload demonstrates the potential of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for various applications, including ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and monitoring inland water bodies.
The SiC UV Dosimeter monitors UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serves as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation, ensuring the safety of astronauts.
