The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) encountered technical issues during the third stage of the launch of the EOS-09 satellite, which led to the mission being unsuccessful, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said on Sunday.
“During the functioning of the third stage, we observed an anomaly, and the mission could not be accomplished. After detailed analysis, we will provide further updates,” Narayanan told scientists after the launch.
In a post on X, ISRO said, “Today, the 101st launch was attempted. PSLV-C61 performance was normal up to the second stage. Due to an observation in the third stage, the mission could not be accomplished.”
The PSLV-C61 flight sequence involves multiple stages, beginning with the ignition of PS1 and PSOM at liftoff, followed by the separation of various modules, and concluding with the deployment of the satellite.
According to the ISRO chief, the issue was detected in the third stage — a solid rocket motor that provides high thrust to propel the upper stage after the rocket exits the atmosphere. This stage delivers a maximum thrust of 240 kilonewtons.
EOS-09, an Earth Observation Satellite, was intended to be placed in a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). The mission plan included deploying the satellite using Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) to lower the altitude of the PS4 stage, followed by passivation — a step taken to reduce the orbital lifespan of the stage and promote responsible space operations.
The EOS-09 satellite is designed to deliver continuous and reliable remote sensing data for various operational sectors. In line with ISRO’s commitment to sustainability, it is equipped with deorbiting fuel for safe disposal at the end of its mission.
Equipped with advanced C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, EOS-09 is capable of capturing high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface in all weather conditions, day or night. This enhances India’s capabilities in surveillance, resource management, and disaster response across multiple sectors.
(ANI)