IMAGE: ISRO launches PSLV-C61 at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Sunday, May 18, 2025. All photographs: ANI Photo
A Rare Anomaly in ISRO’s Stellar Record
On May 18, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced an unexpected challenge. Its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C61) failed to deliver the EOS-09 satellite into orbit. This mission was the 101st PSLV launch, a rocket known for its long streak of successes.
The Mission’s Journey and Unexpected Turn
The PSLV-C61 lifted off at 5:59 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It carried the 1,696 kg EOS-09 satellite. The satellite featured advanced synthetic aperture radar, capable of all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation. It was designed to assist in agriculture, forestry, and disaster management.
Anomaly in the Third Stage
However, the mission took a turn six minutes after launch. The third stage of the rocket experienced a drop in chamber pressure. As a result, the satellite did not reach its planned orbit. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed this technical issue during a press briefing.
Understanding the Impact
PSLV’s Historical Performance
This was only the third failure in PSLV’s history. The first occurred during its maiden flight in 1993. The second happened in 2017 when PSLV-C39 failed due to a heat shield malfunction. Despite this, PSLV has launched over 345 satellites for 34 countries. That includes major missions like Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission. Dailyscitech
A Legacy of Trust
PSLV has long been considered ISRO’s most reliable workhorse. Its ability to carry diverse payloads into different orbits made it a global favorite. Even now, the space community views this failure as a rare exception, not the norm. Dailyscitech
Looking Ahead: ISRO’s Commitment to Excellence
Failure Analysis and Recovery
In response, ISRO formed a Failure Analysis Committee. The team will investigate what caused the anomaly and suggest fixes. This swift action reflects ISRO’s commitment to continuous improvement. It also reassures global partners who depend on ISRO’s launch services. Dailyscitech
Curiosity Spark
Setbacks are part of every great journey. How do space agencies bounce back from failure—and what does it teach us about innovation and resilience in space exploration? Dailyscitech
