The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) today launched a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C52 carrying the Earth observation satellite EOS-04 from ISRO and two more from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

According to ISRO, "PSLV-C52 is designed to orbit an Earth observation satellite (EOS-04), weighing 1,710 kg into a sun-synchronous polar orbit of 529 km." 

The PSLV-C52 mission will also carry two small satellites as co-passengers, including a single student satellite (INSPIRESat-1) from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in association with Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder and ISRO's Experimental Technology Satellite (INS-2TD), which is the precursor to the Indo-Bhutan Joint Satellite (INS-2B).

EOS-04 is a radar imaging satellite designed to provide high quality images in all weather conditions for applications such as agriculture, forestry, farms, soil moisture, hydrology and flood mapping.

There are two scientific payloads on this satellite to improve understanding of the dynamics of the ionosphere and the Sun's coronal heating processes. The other is the ISRO Technology Demonstration Satellite (INS-2TD), a precursor to the Indo Joint Satellite. -Bhutan (INS-2B). With a thermal imaging camera as a payload, the satellite takes the opportunity to evaluate the surface temperature and water surface temperature of wetlands or lakes and determine the vegetation (crops and forest) and inertia (day and night). This will be PSLV flight 54 and mission 23 with a PSLV-XL configuration with 6 PSOM-XLs (strap-on motors).

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