ISRO's 101st Launch Attempt Faces Setback Due to Technical Issues
ISRO's Launch Attempt
On the morning of May 18, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) attempted its 101st launch, which unfortunately did not succeed. The PSLV-C61 rocket was launched at 5:59 AM carrying the EOS-09 satellite. While the initial two stages of the launch proceeded smoothly, a problem arose during the third stage, preventing mission completion.
Technical Difficulties Encountered
According to ISRO, the mission was impacted due to a drop in pressure within the motor case chamber during the third stage. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that they are currently reviewing the entire performance and will provide detailed information soon.
Official Statement from ISRO
In a post on social media, ISRO mentioned, 'Today, an attempt was made for the 101st launch. The performance of PSLV-C61 was normal until the second stage. However, due to an observation in the third stage, the mission could not be accomplished.' The EOS-09 satellite was designed for Earth observation, capable of monitoring weather and environmental conditions.
Insights from ISRO's Chairman
Chairman V. Narayanan explained that the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a four-stage rocket, and the first two stages performed as expected. He noted, 'Today, we targeted the 101st launch of PSLV-C61 for the EOS-09 mission from Sriharikota. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle, and its performance was normal until the second stage. The third stage motor was fully operational, but we observed an issue during its operation, leading to the mission's failure.'
Potential Outcomes of a Successful Mission
Had the mission been successful, the EOS-09 satellite would have been deployed, utilizing orbit change thrusters (OCT) to lower the PS4 stage's altitude. This would have allowed for the use of passivity to limit the satellite's orbital lifespan.
The EOS-09 satellite is an advanced version of EOS-04, designed to ensure remote sensing data for the user community engaged in operational applications and to enhance observation frequency. This satellite is capable of providing high-quality images and data to users across various sectors.