‘Mission could not be accomplished’: ISRO’s EOS-09 launch fails due to third-stage anomaly

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suffered a rare setback on Sunday as its 101st satellite mission, involving the launch of the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09 aboard PSLV-C61, failed to reach completion due to a technical anomaly detected during the third stage of the rocket’s flight.

The PSLV-C61 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota with the aim of placing EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). While the first and second stages of the launch vehicle performed normally, ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan confirmed that an unexpected issue arose during the third stage, preventing the successful deployment of the satellite.

"During the functioning of the third stage, we are seeing an observation and the mission could not be accomplished. After analysis, we shall come back," Dr Narayanan told ISRO scientists shortly after the launch.

ISRO also posted an update on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "Today 101st launch was attempted, PSLV-C61 performance was normal till 2nd stage. Due to an observation in 3rd stage, the mission could not be accomplished."

The third stage of the PSLV is a solid rocket motor designed to provide high thrust during the upper atmosphere phase of the flight, delivering a maximum thrust of 240 kilonewtons. It plays a crucial role in placing the satellite into its intended orbit.

EOS-09, an advanced Earth observation satellite, was intended to enhance India’s remote sensing capabilities. Equipped with C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), it was designed to capture high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface, regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Its applications spanned several key sectors, including agriculture, forestry, disaster management, and national security.

The mission had also been hailed for its focus on sustainability. The satellite was equipped with deorbiting fuel to enable safe disposal at the end of its operational life. Additionally, ISRO had planned to use Orbit Change Thrusters to lower the altitude of the rocket’s PS4 stage, followed by passivation to minimise space debris — in line with global best practices for responsible space operations.

Despite this setback, ISRO is expected to conduct a thorough analysis of the issue and return with corrective measures in its upcoming missions.