ISRO's PSLV-C61 Mission Faces Setback: What Went Wrong with EOS-09 Launch?

Technical Glitch Halts ISRO's 101st Mission

Sriharikota: On Sunday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) encountered a significant challenge during its 101st mission, PSLV-C61, which was intended to launch the EOS-09 satellite. Unfortunately, a technical malfunction in the launch vehicle resulted in the mission's failure, preventing the satellite from being deployed successfully.

The PSLV-C61, an indigenous Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre with the goal of placing EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). While the initial two stages of the launch proceeded as planned, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan reported that an unexpected issue occurred during the third stage, hindering the satellite's deployment.

Dr. Narayanan stated, "We attempted the 101st launch from Sriharikota today, with PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle, and its performance was normal up to the second stage. The third stage motor ignited perfectly; however, an anomaly was detected during its operation, and the mission could not be completed successfully..."

He added, "We will return after conducting a thorough analysis."

ISRO also shared an update on X, indicating, "The 101st launch was attempted, and PSLV-C61 performed normally until the second stage. Due to an observation in the third stage, the mission could not be accomplished."

The third stage of the PSLV is equipped with a solid rocket motor that provides substantial thrust during the upper atmosphere phase, delivering a peak thrust of 240 kilonewtons. This stage is crucial for placing the satellite into its designated orbit.

The EOS-09 satellite was designed to deliver continuous and reliable remote sensing data for various operational applications, including border surveillance, national security, agriculture, forestry, flood monitoring, and disaster management. The mission aimed to carry a 1,710 kg satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit to ensure consistent lighting for Earth observation.

Additionally, the mission was intended to promote sustainability and responsible space operations. EOS-09 is a repeat satellite similar to EOS-04, which was launched in 2022, and was designed to enhance the frequency of remote sensing data for users engaged in operational applications.