Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh on Thursday (29 July) said that Geo-imaging satellite“EOS-03” is scheduled for launch in third quarter of 2021 that would enable near-real time monitoring of natural disasters like floods and cyclones.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on , he said, ISRO realized EOS-03 is capable of imaging the whole country 4-5 times daily.

In addition to natural disasters, EOS-03 would also enable monitoring of water bodies, crops, vegetation condition, forest cover changes etc, an official release said.

Meanwhile, the first developmental flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle or SSLV is scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2021 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, the minister informed.

ISRO’s vast experience in Solid propulsion and heritage of proven design practices has enabled SSLV to be developed as a cost-effective, three stage, all-solid launch vehicle with a payload capability of 500 kg to 500 km planar orbit or 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit, he added.

SSLV is ideal for on-demand, quick turn-around launch of small satellites.

The major technologies developed as part of realisation of SSLV are flexible nozzle control with electro-mechanical actuators for all stages, miniaturized avionics and a velocity trimming module in the upper stage for precise satellite injection, the minister said.