The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is launching its first mission of the year 2022 on February 14, with the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C52) orbiting an earth observation satellite (EOS-04). The launch is scheduled at 05:59 hours from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, ISRO said.

PSLV-C52 mission will also carry two small satellites. They are student satellite (INSPIREsat-1) from the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) in association with the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a technology demonstrator satellite (INS-2TD) from ISRO which is a forerunner to India-Bhutan Joint Satellite (INS-2B).

EOS-04 is a Radar Imaging Satellite designed to deliver high-quality images in all weather conditions for applications like agriculture, forestry & plantations, soil moisture & hydrology and flood mapping. “The countdown process of 25 hours and 30 minutes leading to the launch will commence at 04:29 hours on February 13, 2022, after authorisation by the Launch Authorization Board,” the ISRO said.