Daijiworld Media Network - Sriharikota

Sriharikota, May 18: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) encountered a rare setback on Sunday as its 101st mission, PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite, failed due to a technical malfunction during the third stage of the launch sequence.

The mission, launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, aimed to place the 1,710 kg EOS-09 satellite into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). While the first and second stages of the four-stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) performed as expected, an anomaly in the third stage disrupted the mission.

ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan confirmed the failure, stating, “The PSLV-C61 launch was normal up to the second stage. The third stage motor ignited as planned, but an anomaly occurred during its operation, and the mission could not be accomplished. We will return with a detailed analysis.”

ISRO also posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Today 101st launch was attempted, PSLV-C61 performance was normal till 2nd stage. Due to an observation in 3rd stage, the mission could not be accomplished.”

The third stage of the PSLV is a solid-fuel motor responsible for delivering high thrust (up to 240 kilonewtons) in the upper atmosphere, playing a vital role in ensuring satellites are placed into precise orbits.

The EOS-09 was developed to provide real-time remote sensing data for a range of applications including national security, agriculture, forestry, flood and disaster monitoring. It was also designed to support sustainable and responsible space operations. The satellite was considered a follow-up to EOS-04, launched in 2022, aimed at increasing observation frequency and supporting operational users.

This mission failure underscores the complexities and risks involved in space exploration, even with ISRO’s strong track record. Engineers and scientists are expected to begin a detailed investigation to identify the cause of the anomaly and prevent recurrence in future missions.