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.

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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)