PSLV-C61’s Bold Journey: ISRO Faces Hurdle, Gears Up for a Stronger Comeback

India’s space ambitions faced a rare setback on Sunday as the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) 101st mission, the PSLV-C61 carrying the advanced EOS-09 earth observation satellite, failed to reach orbit following a technical anomaly in its third stage. The launch, which lifted off at 5:59 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, initially progressed smoothly through its first and second stages.

 

However, during the critical third stage, telemetry revealed a sudden drop in chamber pressure. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed that while the third-stage motor ignited as planned, an “observation” during its operation led to mission termination. Early analysis suggests a suspected malfunction in the flex nozzle control system-a vital mechanism that steers the rocket during its 114-second burn. This failure resulted in the PSLV veering off its intended trajectory, rendering the mission unsuccessful.

 

The EOS-09 satellite, equipped with a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar for all-weather surveillance, was intended to enhance India’s remote sensing capabilities but could not be deployed. This marks only the third failure in PSLV’s storied history, with previous setbacks in 1993 and 2017.

 

ISRO has announced the formation of a Failure Analysis Committee comprising internal experts and academic partners to thoroughly investigate the incident. Despite the disappointment, ISRO leadership remains resolute, viewing failures as vital learning opportunities that strengthen the agency’s resolve for future missions.

 

Source: Economic Times