ISRO set to launch Earth Observation Satellite-8 on August 15: Report

ISRO's Earth Observation Sattellite-8 (EOS-8) is expected to be launched by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 on August 15 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, the space agency sources told PTI on Tuesday.

Among the primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission are designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, as well as incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites, notified the Indian Space Research Organisation.

"EOS-08 marks a significant advancement in satellite mainframe systems such as an Integrated Avionics system, known as the Communication, Baseband, Storage, and Positioning (CBSP) Package, which combines multiple functions into a single, efficient unit," the Indian Space Agency said.


The EOS-08 is built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, and carries three payloads that are Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and SiC UV Dosimeter.

The EOIR payload is engineered to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, providing data both during the day and at night. Its applications include satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental observation, fire detection, volcanic activity tracking, and monitoring of industrial and power plant incidents.

On the other hand, the GNSS-R payload showcases the use of GNSS-R-based remote sensing for analyzing ocean surface winds, assessing soil moisture, studying the cryosphere over the Himalayan region, detecting floods, and identifying inland water bodies.

Meanwhile, the SiC UV Dosimeter measures UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module for the Gaganyaan Mission and acts as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation. The spacecraft is designed for a mission duration of one year.