NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Sunday faced a setback after the launch of Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-09, failed due to a technical anomaly during the third stage of the PSLV-C61 rocket flight. Isro chairman V Narayanan confirmed the issue during a post-launch address to scientists, saying that the mission could not be completed as planned.“During the functioning of the third stage, we are seeing an observation and the mission could not be accomplished. After analysis, we shall come back,” Narayanan said. Isro also acknowledged the failure in a post on X, saying, “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 PSLV-C61 launch sequence includes multiple complex stages, beginning with the ignition of the PS1 and strap-on motors, followed by stage separations and eventual deployment of the payload. The third stage, a solid rocket motor with a maximum thrust of 240 kilonewtons, is responsible for delivering high thrust after the rocket exits the atmospheric phase. It was at this critical juncture that the problem occurred.The EOS-09, an advanced Earth observation satellite, was intended to be placed in a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). Designed with C-band synthetic aperture radar, it was capable of capturing high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions, day or night.In addition to its surveillance capabilities, the mission underscored Isro’s commitment to sustainability in space. EOS-09 was equipped with deorbiting fuel, enabling responsible end-of-life disposal. The PSLV-C61 mission plan also included passivation of the fourth stage to reduce orbital debris, aligning with global efforts for cleaner space operations.
