Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 18 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief, V Narayanan, has confirmed that the EOS-09 satellite launch mission was unsuccessful. Addressing a press conference, he stated that while the first two stages of the PSLV-C61 launch vehicle performed as expected, an issue occurred during the third stage.
Narayanan explained, “Today we attempted a launch of the PSLV-C61 vehicle. The vehicle is a 4-stage vehicle. The first two stages performed as expected. During the 3rd stage, we are seeing observation. The mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the entire performance; we shall come back at the earliest.”
ISRO also addressed the situation on X, stating, “Today, the 101st launch was attempted; PSLV-C61 performance was normal till the 2nd stage. Due to an observation in the 3rd stage, the mission could not be accomplished.”
The PSLV-C61 flight sequence involves various stages, from the ignition of PS1 and PSOM to the separation of multiple sections, ultimately culminating in the separation of the satellite from the rocket. The problem was detected in the third stage, a solid rocket motor responsible for providing high thrust after the atmospheric phase of the launch. This stage has a maximum thrust of 240 kilonewtons.
The failed mission involved launching the Earth Orbiting Satellite (EOS-09), intended to be placed in a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). The plan was to deploy the satellite and subsequently use Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) to lower the altitude of the PS4 stage, followed by passivation to reduce orbital life and promote responsible space operations.
The EOS-09 satellite is equipped with C-band synthetic aperture radar technology, capable of capturing high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface under all weather conditions, day or night. This technology is intended to enhance India’s surveillance and management systems across multiple sectors.
Notably, this mission was also part of ISRO’s efforts to promote sustainability in space operations, with the EOS-09 satellite equipped with deorbiting fuel to ensure safe disposal after the mission.
Despite the setback, ISRO remains committed to identifying the cause of the anomaly and improving the reliability of future missions. (ANI)
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