Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was unable to complete its mission to launch the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite on Sunday due to an anomaly in the rocket’s third stage, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed.
The launch, carried out using the trusted PSLV-C61 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), was intended to mark the 101st launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. While the initial phases of the launch proceeded smoothly, complications arose mid-flight.
“The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle. The performance was normal up to the second stage. The third stage motor also ignited as expected, but during its functioning, we observed an anomaly. As a result, the mission could not be accomplished,” said Mr. Narayanan in a brief post-launch statement.
He added that a detailed analysis would be conducted to determine the cause of the failure, and ISRO would provide further updates following the review.
The primary payload for the mission, EOS-09, was designed as a repeat satellite of EOS-04, launched in 2022. Equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), EOS-09 was intended to deliver high-resolution earth observation images in all weather conditions, day or night. Its data was expected to support critical sectors including agriculture, forestry, disaster management, urban planning, and national security.
The launch had taken place as scheduled at 5:59 AM (IST), but the setback in the third stage marks a rare anomaly in ISRO’s otherwise strong PSLV track record.
ISRO will now turn its focus to investigating the issue to ensure the reliability of future missions and safeguard the interests of its user community reliant on remote sensing capabilities.
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