ISRO's PSLV-C61 EOS-09 launch aborted midway; ISRO Chief V. Narayanan explains why
India's latest satellite launch mission, EOS-09, failed to achieve its target after a pressure drop in the rocket's third stage. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed the anomaly and assured that investigations were underway. The launch, from Sriharikota's spaceport aboard PSLV-C61, was intended to place a powerful Earth observation satellite into orbit. This marks one of the few setbacks in ISRO's PSLV track record.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
ISRO PSLV-C61 EOS-09: Third stage falters after smooth lift-off
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
ISRO's track record and the significance of EOS-09
Failure Analysis Committee to investigate
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
India's 101st space mission from Sriharikota suffered a major setback early Sunday when the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO ) failed to complete the launch of its Earth observation satellite EOS-09. The mission lifted off as scheduled at 5:59 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre but encountered an anomaly in the third stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C61 ).'Today we targeted the 101st launch from Sriharikota, the PSLV-C61 EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle and up to the second stage, the performance was normal. The third stage motor started perfectly but during the functioning of the third stage we are seeing an observation and the mission could not be accomplished,' ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said in a post-launch statement.He added, '...and the motor pressure—there was a fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case and the mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the entire performance, we shall come back at the earliest.'Though the PSLV-C61 launched without delay and performed reliably through its first two stages, the solid-fuel third stage failed to maintain the required pressure. This disruption halted the progress of the 1,696.24 kg EOS-09 satellite , which was designed for all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation.The rocket, towering at 44.5 metres and weighing 321 tonnes, was carrying the high-performance Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, intended to support sectors like agriculture, disaster response, urban planning, forestry and national security.The mission was also structured to be debris-free, with fuel reserved for de-orbiting the satellite after its operational life to prevent long-term space debris.This mission was the 63rd overall flight of the PSLV and the 27th using its heavier-lifting XL configuration. PSLV failures are rare. Since its first flight in 1993, ISRO has recorded just three setbacks, including Sunday's mission.The previous failures were PSLV-D1 in 1993 and PSLV-C39 in 2017, the latter due to a faulty heat shield that prevented satellite deployment. The current failure is expected to prompt an internal review as well as the formation of a Failure Analysis Committee The EOS-09 satellite, similar to the EOS-04 launched in 2022, was developed to enhance the frequency and reliability of remote sensing data. The SAR payload inside the satellite could have delivered high-resolution images even in cloudy or dark conditions—key for precision-based resource management.ISRO has confirmed that a detailed review will be undertaken to assess what went wrong. '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,' ISRO stated on its official X handle.Sources told CNN-News18 that a Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) will be set up to probe the issue. The FAC will include ISRO experts and members from the academic sector, and is likely to be headed by a former ISRO Chief or a senior retired scientist. The committee will comb through flight data, launch preparations, and all associated systems.While ISRO has not yet released its final technical report, Chairman Narayanan's assurance suggests the agency will soon regroup for another attempt. 'After analysis we shall come back,' he said.Despite Sunday's setback, ISRO maintains a strong reputation for dependable launch missions. The EOS-09 failure may delay upcoming plans temporarily, but it also offers the opportunity to reinforce technical rigour.For now, the space agency turns inward to evaluate its systems and regain momentum. India's ambitious space programme—marked by achievements like the Chandrayaan and Mars missions—remains undeterred. The mission may have failed, but the resolve remains intact.(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
32 minutes ago
- Business Standard
'Privilege to be amongst few': Shukla describes seeing Earth from space
Speaking from orbit, the astronaut shared his experience of living and working in space, offering insights into the physical challenges, the awe of observing Earth from above ANI US Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), shared his reflections from orbit, saying, "It is a privilege to be amongst the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride." "Hear from the #Ax4 astronauts about the significance of the mission and how we are expanding access to LEO for countries to pursue their space exploration goals, leading to advancements #ForEarth. We are building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere," Axiom Space said in a post on X. Underscoring global collaboration, Axiom tagged key partners, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the European Space Agency (ESA), Poland's space agency POLSA, and the Polish Ministry of Development and Technology, calling the Ax-4 mission a step forward for humanity. Earlier, continuing his outreach from space, Group Captain Shukla interacted with students at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Karnataka on July 4 via ham radio, offering a glimpse into life aboard the ISS and emphasising the role of international cooperation in enabling such missions. Speaking from orbit, the astronaut shared his experience of living and working in space, offering insights into the physical challenges, the awe of observing Earth from above, and the camaraderie with crew members from the US, Poland, and Hungary. "International collaboration is key for the success of missions like the ISS and space. Even for our mission Axiom 4, agencies like ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, Axiom... everyone is coming together to make this mission happen," he said, emphasising the power of global partnerships. He also recounted moments of cultural exchange aboard the ISS, sharing traditional Indian delicacies with fellow astronauts. "I was able to bring three different types of food... That was aam ras, gajar ka halwa, and moong daal ka halwa. I must tell you everybody here loved it," he said, adding that the crew appreciated the unique flavours. Describing the atmosphere onboard, Shukla remarked, "Working with people from many different countries and nationalities, the entire experience is very, very exciting." However, he noted the physical toll and difficulty in resting, saying, "The most difficult task is to go to sleep because of the excitement all around... But you need to take rest." Reflecting on his view from space, Shukla said, "The most exciting part of being in space is looking back at Earth from such an advantageous point. It makes you realise how fortunate you are to be on this planet." The astronaut, who is the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma, launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. As Mission Pilot of Axiom Mission 4, he helped pilot the Dragon spacecraft, which docked autonomously with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm (IST). Shukla and the Ax-4 crew were received by the seven-member Expedition 73 team on the ISS and began their mission with a safety briefing. The Ax-4 crew comprises former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The crew is expected to stay aboard the ISS for up to 14 days. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Economic Times
33 minutes ago
- Economic Times
It has been a wonderful ride: Shubhanshu Shukla describes awe of seeing earth from space
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), shared his reflections from orbit, saying, "It is a privilege to be amongst the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride."His remarks came as Axiom Space highlighted the significance of its Ax-4 mission. "Hear from the #Ax4 astronauts about the significance of the mission and how we are expanding access to LEO for countries to pursue their space exploration goals, leading to advancements #ForEarth. We are building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere," Axiom Space said in a post on X. Underscoring global collaboration, Axiom tagged key partners, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the European Space Agency (ESA), Poland's space agency POLSA, and the Polish Ministry of Development and Technology, calling the Ax-4 mission a step forward for humanity. Earlier, continuing his outreach from space, Group Captain Shukla interacted with students at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Karnataka on July 4 via ham radio, offering a glimpse into life aboard the ISS and emphasising the role of international cooperation in enabling such from orbit, the astronaut shared his experience of living and working in space, offering insights into the physical challenges, the awe of observing Earth from above, and the camaraderie with crew members from the US, Poland, and Hungary."International collaboration is key for the success of missions like the ISS and space. Even for our mission Axiom 4, agencies like ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, Axiom... everyone is coming together to make this mission happen," he said, emphasising the power of global also recounted moments of cultural exchange aboard the ISS, sharing traditional Indian delicacies with fellow astronauts. "I was able to bring three different types of food... That was aam ras, gajar ka halwa, and moong daal ka halwa. I must tell you everybody here loved it," he said, adding that the crew appreciated the unique the atmosphere onboard, Shukla remarked, "Working with people from many different countries and nationalities, the entire experience is very, very exciting." However, he noted the physical toll and difficulty in resting, saying, "The most difficult task is to go to sleep because of the excitement all around... But you need to take rest."Reflecting on his view from space, Shukla said, "The most exciting part of being in space is looking back at Earth from such an advantageous point. It makes you realise how fortunate you are to be on this planet."The astronaut, who is the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma, launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. As Mission Pilot of Axiom Mission 4, he helped pilot the Dragon spacecraft, which docked autonomously with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm (IST).Shukla and the Ax-4 crew were received by the seven-member Expedition 73 team on the ISS and began their mission with a safety Ax-4 crew comprises former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The crew is expected to stay aboard the ISS for up to 14 days.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
It has been a wonderful ride: Shubhanshu Shukla describes awe of seeing earth from space
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla , the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), shared his reflections from orbit, saying, "It is a privilege to be amongst the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride." His remarks came as Axiom Space highlighted the significance of its Ax-4 mission. "Hear from the #Ax4 astronauts about the significance of the mission and how we are expanding access to LEO for countries to pursue their space exploration goals, leading to advancements #ForEarth. We are building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere," Axiom Space said in a post on X. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 最高のヒーローが待っている！ Undo このゲームを試してみて、なぜみんなが夢中になるのか見てみよう！ Undo ヒーローをアップグレードし、チームを率いて戦いに挑もう！ Undo ご用心！このゲームには中毒性があります！一度ハマったら抜け出せない。 Undo Underscoring global collaboration, Axiom tagged key partners, including the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ), the European Space Agency (ESA), Poland's space agency POLSA, and the Polish Ministry of Development and Technology, calling the Ax-4 mission a step forward for humanity. Live Events Earlier, continuing his outreach from space, Group Captain Shukla interacted with students at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Karnataka on July 4 via ham radio, offering a glimpse into life aboard the ISS and emphasising the role of international cooperation in enabling such missions. Speaking from orbit, the astronaut shared his experience of living and working in space, offering insights into the physical challenges, the awe of observing Earth from above, and the camaraderie with crew members from the US, Poland, and Hungary. "International collaboration is key for the success of missions like the ISS and space. Even for our mission Axiom 4, agencies like ISRO, NASA , SpaceX, Axiom... everyone is coming together to make this mission happen," he said, emphasising the power of global partnerships. He also recounted moments of cultural exchange aboard the ISS, sharing traditional Indian delicacies with fellow astronauts. "I was able to bring three different types of food... That was aam ras, gajar ka halwa, and moong daal ka halwa. I must tell you everybody here loved it," he said, adding that the crew appreciated the unique flavours. Describing the atmosphere onboard, Shukla remarked, "Working with people from many different countries and nationalities, the entire experience is very, very exciting." However, he noted the physical toll and difficulty in resting, saying, "The most difficult task is to go to sleep because of the excitement all around... But you need to take rest." Reflecting on his view from space, Shukla said, "The most exciting part of being in space is looking back at Earth from such an advantageous point. It makes you realise how fortunate you are to be on this planet." The astronaut, who is the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma, launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. As Mission Pilot of Axiom Mission 4, he helped pilot the Dragon spacecraft, which docked autonomously with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm (IST). Shukla and the Ax-4 crew were received by the seven-member Expedition 73 team on the ISS and began their mission with a safety briefing. The Ax-4 crew comprises former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The crew is expected to stay aboard the ISS for up to 14 days.
