India ascends to new heights as ISRO readies advanced surveillance satellite

In a powerful leap for India’s defense and space surveillance capabilities, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is set to launch its most advanced all-weather, night-vision satellite on May 18 at 5:59 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The mission will mark the 101st major rocket launch by ISRO and further elevate India’s edge in space-based security intelligence.

The satellite, named EOS-9, is a 1,696-kilogram indigenously-developed radar imaging system designed to pierce through cloud cover and darkness, delivering high-resolution visuals of Earth’s surface in real-time, 24/7. It will be launched aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) into an orbit over 500 kilometers above Earth, enhancing surveillance across the country’s extensive land and maritime borders.

Designed by the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, EOS-9 carries a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) — a technology capable of generating crystal-clear images under adverse weather conditions and low-light scenarios, something traditional optical satellites like Cartosat-3, which go blind at night, cannot match.

This satellite joins an expanding Indian fleet of over 57 space-based assets, including four operational radar satellites, which have proven instrumental in monitoring security developments — most recently during escalations following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

“At least 10 satellites are working round-the-clock to ensure the safety and security of the country,” stated ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan. “India must monitor a 7,000-kilometre-long coastline and sensitive northern borders. Without satellite and drone technology, it is simply not feasible.”

Union Minister for Space and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the broader vision behind such missions: “Precision, teamwork, and engineering powers India’s space ambitions.”

The historic launch is expected to draw a significant audience, including multiple Members of Parliament and the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science, Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, led by Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneshwar Kalita — a show of political backing for India's growing space infrastructure.

As India fortifies its orbital sentinels, EOS-9 not only marks a scientific milestone but a strategic message: the nation is watching — day and night, come rain or shine.