📰 News ⏱ 2 min

India Launches Its First Imaging Satellite for a High‑Altitude Orbit

India's space agency successfully placed its first imaging satellite designed for a geosynchronous orbit.

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Key Points

4 points

First Indian imaging satellite for geosynchronous orbit launched.

Rocket: three‑stage, 51.7 m tall, with a cryogenic upper stage.

Orbit altitude: roughly 36,000 km, allowing the satellite to stay over the same region.

Purpose: provide real‑time images for farming, flood monitoring, and other services.

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The three‑stage Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 2:55 am after a 27‑hour countdown.

The satellite will hover about 36,000 km above Earth, matching the planet’s rotation, and deliver real‑time Earth‑observation data.

The data will support agriculture, disaster management, and other national needs.

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11 words

geosynchronous

an orbit where a satellite moves at the same speed the Earth rotates, staying above the same area

cryogenic

extremely cold fuel used in rockets to give a powerful push

altitude

how high something is above the ground or sea level

rotational speed

the speed at which the Earth spins on its axis

anomaly

something that did not work the way expected

abort

to stop a mission early because of a problem

mission

the overall plan and purpose of a space flight

payload

the satellite or equipment that the rocket is carrying

launch pad

the platform where a rocket is positioned before it takes off

Satish Dhawan Space Centre

India's main spaceport where rockets are launched

real‑time

information that is received instantly, without delay

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