Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) much-anticipated 101st satellite launch mission, carrying EOS-09, could not be accomplished due to a technical anomaly during the third stage of flight, ISRO chief V Narayanan confirmed on Sunday.
“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,” said Narayanan, addressing ISRO scientists at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
The PSLV-C61 rocket performed normally through its first and second stages, but an issue in the third stage, a solid rocket motor delivering 240 kN of thrust, prevented successful deployment of the EOS-09 satellite.
ISRO Acknowledges Mission Incompletion
ISRO also posted a brief update on X (formerly Twitter):
“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 third stage plays a critical role in carrying the payload beyond the Earth’s denser atmosphere into its intended Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).
EOS-09: An Ambitious Mission Interrupted
The EOS-09 satellite, equipped with C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), was designed to capture high-resolution, all-weather, day/night Earth imagery. Its objectives included:
- Agriculture and forestry monitoring
- Disaster and water resource management
- Strategic and military surveillance
It was also part of ISRO’s broader effort to ensure sustainable space operations, equipped with deorbiting fuel and a plan to passivate the PS4 stage post-deployment.
Way Forward: Analysis and Recovery
The setback comes just as ISRO was preparing to celebrate its 101st successful launch and further its reputation for reliable space delivery systems. However, officials emphasize that anomalies are a part of space exploration.
A detailed analysis is now underway to understand the failure in the third stage and implement corrective measures in future missions.
“It’s a temporary setback, not a failure of ambition. ISRO’s resilience will turn this into a learning milestone,” said a senior space analyst.