ISRO Missions

10 mentions in the news, newest first.

• 2026-09-09

  ISRO's EOS-05 completes final orbit-raising manoeuvre, reaches geosynchronous orbit

  ISRO completed the third and final orbit-raising manoeuvre of its EOS-05 satellite at 8.57 pm on 7 September 2026, firing the Liquid Apogee Motor for 1,247 seconds and placing the satellite into a near circular orbit of about 34,903 km by 35,884 km. EOS-05, launched aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket on 4 September, is India's first imaging or Earth observation satellite designed to operate from geosynchronous orbit, distinct from India's long-standing GSAT communication satellites in that same class of orbit, and will undergo health and systems checks over the coming days before its imaging payload is activated. Two earlier orbit-raising manoeuvres on 5 and 6 September had already reshaped the satellite's orbit from its initial sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

• 2026-09-08

  Luxembourg proposes concrete space and emerging technology collaboration with India

  Lex Delles, Luxembourg's Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism, called on Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh on 7 September 2026 and proposed identifying concrete areas of collaboration, primarily in space and also in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced materials and life sciences. India and Luxembourg already have a memorandum of understanding on the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes signed in February 2022, and the partnership has a commercial dimension that includes transponder leasing and the launch of two Luxembourg satellites on commercial terms aboard the PSLV. IN-SPACe and the Luxembourg Space Agency have been working to connect the two countries' space ecosystems, with Earth observation imagery, communication transponders, launch services and ground stations identified as areas of interest. Jitendra Singh set out India's longer term goals of an Indian space station by 2035 and a human landing on the Moon by 2040, and both sides discussed a proposed State Visit from Luxembourg in January 2027.

• 2026-09-07

  ISRO rejects reports of privatisation, says role will remain central to space reforms

  The Indian Space Research Organisation on 6 September 2026 rejected media reports suggesting it was being privatised or that its role in India's space programme was being reduced, terming such claims completely baseless. The clarification came days after nine employee associations representing thousands of ISRO staff wrote to ISRO chairman and Department of Space secretary V Narayanan seeking clarity on a reported proposal to shift the agency's manufacturing and operational work to private companies. ISRO said transferring mature technologies to industry enables large scale production and commercialisation while allowing the organisation to focus on advanced research, next generation technologies and complex national missions, with ownership and control of critical national space infrastructure remaining with the government.

• 2026-09-06

  ISRO tests semi-cryogenic engine power head at full 200 tonne thrust

  The Indian Space Research Organisation conducted the ninth hot test of its Semi-Cryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article at the ISRO Propulsion Research Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, on 5 September 2026. It was the first time the test article was fired at its full thrust level of 200 tonnes, having previously been tested at 47, 60 and 88 percent thrust in earlier trials. The 35 second test, which sustained full thrust for 5 seconds, also validated the switch over of propellant supply from a low pressure start tank to a medium pressure run tank, a step needed for longer duration tests ahead.

• 2026-09-04

  ISRO's GSLV-F17 successfully launches India's first geosynchronous imaging satellite EOS-05

  The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F17 successfully placed the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite into its intended Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, 18 minutes after lifting off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2.55 a.m. on 4 September 2026. Weighing 2,367 kilograms, EOS-05 is India's first ever imaging satellite designed to operate from Geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 kilometres above Earth, and will provide real time imagery for agriculture, environment and disaster management once operational. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said this was the 107th launch from Sriharikota and the 19th flight of the GSLV, and the space agency's first successful launch since the failure of the PSLV-C62 mission in January 2026. The EOS-05 mission replaces the payload lost when the GSLV-F10/EOS-03 mission failed in August 2021 due to a cryogenic upper stage anomaly.

• 2026-09-04

  CAQM in talks with Punjab, Haryana and ISRO to improve stubble fire estimation ahead of winter

  The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas said on 3 September 2026 that it is in discussions with Punjab and Haryana to improve the measurement of stubble burning fires ahead of the winter pollution season. CAQM chief Rajesh Varma said satellite fire counts from overhead passes may not give the most accurate picture of the extent of farm fires, and that the Commission has asked ISRO to develop a basic ground truthing protocol this year to get a better estimate than fire counts alone. The move is part of CAQM's preparation to manage the sharp seasonal rise in Delhi NCR's air pollution linked to paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana each October and November.

• 2026-09-01

  ISRO to end seven month launch pause with GISAT-1A on 4 September

  The Indian Space Research Organisation announced on 31 August 2026 that it will launch the earth observation satellite EOS-05, also called GISAT-1A, aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket from Sriharikota on 4 September 2026. The launch will end a seven month operational pause for ISRO since the PSLV-C62 mission, carrying the EOS-N1 satellite, failed shortly after liftoff on 12 January 2026. GISAT-1A is a replacement for the original GISAT-1, also known as EOS-03, which was lost in August 2021 after the cryogenic upper stage of its launch vehicle failed to ignite.

• 2026-08-24

  Assam nears private-partner selection to build its own satellite, AssamSAT

  Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on 23 August 2026 that the state is in the final stage of selecting a private-sector partner to build and launch 'AssamSAT' under the DBLOTT (Design, Build, Launch, Operate, Train and Transfer) model, which would make Assam the first Indian state with its own earth observation satellite system. The project is being developed in collaboration with IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) under the Department of Space, after the state floated Expressions of Interest earlier this year and received strong interest from private space companies. The satellite is intended to provide continuous data for agriculture, disaster management, infrastructure development and border security, shifting Assam from a user of satellite data to an active participant in the space-tech ecosystem.

• 2026-08-19

  Chandigarh University and ISRO host National Space Technology Conclave 2026

  Chandigarh University's Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science and Technology, in collaboration with ISRO and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, hosted the two day National Space Technology Conclave 2026 on 17 and 18 August. Around 30 scientists, mission leaders and technologists from ISRO, IN-SPACe, NewSpace India Limited and the U R Rao Satellite Centre took part alongside industry leaders, deliberating on emerging space technologies for India's future missions across five roundtables and technology demonstrations. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla attended as special guest, and Chandigarh University said it became the first Indian university to unveil a Declaration on Space Technology for Viksit Bharat 2047.

• 2026-08-18

  NASA invites ISRO to join its Artemis Moon Base programme

  At the 9th India US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on 5 and 6 August, NASA invited ISRO to participate in its Artemis Moon Base programme, a lunar South Pole base being developed under the Artemis Accords framework. India became the 27th signatory to the Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023. The invitation comes as India's own human spaceflight programme progresses, with the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission carrying the half humanoid Vyommitra targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, ahead of two further uncrewed flights and India's maiden crewed orbital mission.