ISRO’s 101st mission fails as PSLV develops snag minutes after lift-off

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 ISRO’s 101st mission fails as PSLV develops snag minutes after lift-off

(Source: Page 1 and 2, The Indian Express)

Topic:GS3: Science and Technology – Developments in Space Technology, Achievements of Indians in Science and Tech
Context
  • ISRO’s PSLV-C58 mission, intended to place the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09 into a sun-synchronous orbit, failed minutes after launch due to a technical snag in the third stage. This marks ISRO’s second consecutive mission failure in 2025.

What Happened?

  • PSLV launch failed to insert EOS-09 into orbit.

  • Issue occurred ~6 minutes after launch, during the 3rd stage.

  • Drop in motor chamber pressure caused deviation from the calculated trajectory.

Technical Details:

  • PSLV’s XL variant used (its 27th flight), a trusted four-stage launch vehicle.

  • The altitude post-third stage was lower than expected, forcing ISRO to abort the live stream.

  • Oxidizer valve failure possibly prevented orbital injection.

  • EOS-09 remained functional but was in incorrect orbit.

Why It Matters?

  • PSLV is ISRO’s most reliable vehicle, with rare failures (last: 2017 – C39 mission).

  • This was the 101st mission by ISRO, 63rd using PSLV.

  • The mission followed the earlier failure of NVS-02 in Jan 2025.

ISRO’s Response:

  • Chairman V. Narayanan expressed confidence in identifying the fault swiftly.

  • Former Chairman S. Somanath said such failures are part of long-term scientific progress.

  • A failure analysis committee will publish findings.

Significance of EOS-09:

  • 1,700 kg Earth Observation satellite equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).

  • Capable of imaging Earth under all weather and light conditions.

  • Intended to complement EOS-04 launched in 2022.

Analysis:

  • The failure is significant due to PSLV’s strong success record; such setbacks are rare and draw attention globally.

  • It highlights the need for improved quality checks, especially in third-stage propulsion systems.

  • Despite the failure, ISRO’s transparency and readiness to investigate show institutional maturity.

  • Operational delays in Earth observation impact national security, agriculture, and disaster response.

  • In a competitive global space market, consistent reliability is essential to retain international clients.

  • Failures like this are part of scientific advancement and help refine future mission protocols.

Conclusion/Way Forward

  • Reaffirms importance of continuous improvement and diagnostics in space missions.
  • Need for enhanced monitoring during third-stage propulsion.
  • Strengthen mission resilience and promote transparency in failure analysis to preserve global credibility.
  • India must continue investing in indigenous space tech to maintain leadership in affordable access to space.

Practice Question:

Setbacks in space exploration test a nation’s scientific resilience and innovation capacity. Examine the causes and implications of ISRO’s recent mission failures, and suggest policy and technological improvements for future space programs.

 (250 words, 15 marks)

 

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