The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has successfully launched the EOS-01 Earth observation satellite.

The EOS-01 and nine other international satellites were onboard the PSLV-C49 rocket, which lifted off from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

The lift-off took place following a nine-minute delay due to severe weather conditions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “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.

“Nine satellites, including four each from the US and Luxembourg and one from Lithuania, have also been launched in the mission.”

The EOS-01 was placed in its orbit around 15min and 20s after the launch with its two solar arrays deployed automatically following the separation.

Later, the nine satellites were also injected in their planned orbits. These were launched under a commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network at Bengaluru took control of the EOS-01, which will be taken to its final operational configuration in the next few days.

The satellite will support agriculture, forestry and disaster management.

It is the 51st of PSLV and the 2nd flight of PSLV in ‘DL’ configuration with two solid strap-on motors.

In January, India launched the GSAT-30 communication satellite aboard the Ariane 5 VA-251 launch vehicle from Kourou Launch Base, French Guiana.