ISRO Grounds PSLV Fleet After Launch Failure, NISAR Mission Remains on Track
Days after the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission PSLV-C61 ended in failure, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has temporarily grounded its PSLV rocket fleet as investigations into the mishap continue.
The PSLV-C61 mission, launched on May 18, was tasked with deploying the advanced EOS-09 earth observation satellite equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) designed for all-weather, day-and-night imaging. However, less than seven minutes into the flight, the mission was aborted when the rocket’s third stage suffered a sudden drop in chamber pressure, causing loss of thrust and the eventual loss of the satellite and vehicle over the Indian Ocean.
This failure marks a rare setback for the PSLV, which has an impressive track record with 94% success—completing 64 missions with only four failures prior to this incident.
Initial analyses suggest a rupture in the fibre casing of the third-stage solid-fuel motor as a possible cause, which may have allowed hot gases from the burning fuel to enter sensitive areas, leading to the thrust loss. The first two stages performed as expected, but the third stage’s malfunction proved critical.
The EOS-09 satellite was expected to play a significant role in environmental monitoring, disaster response, and national security applications, making its loss a notable blow to ISRO’s Earth observation capabilities.
In response, ISRO has convened a high-level investigation committee to thoroughly examine the anomaly. The committee is scrutinising telemetry data and system diagnostics to determine the precise cause of the failure. A detailed report is expected by mid-June.
While the PSLV fleet remains grounded as a precautionary measure, ISRO stresses that other launch vehicles and missions are unaffected. Preparations for the upcoming Nasa-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, scheduled for launch in June 2025 aboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), are proceeding as planned.
NISAR is a $1.5 billion collaborative mission between ISRO and NASA to deploy one of the world’s most advanced radar imaging satellites, aimed at monitoring Earth’s changing systems and natural hazards.
ISRO officials emphasise that the grounding is a standard safety protocol and will not delay other critical projects, including the highly anticipated Gaganyaan human spaceflight tests.
Despite the rare PSLV failure, ISRO remains confident in its ability to resolve the issue swiftly and maintain its trajectory of reliable and successful space missions.
With several ambitious crewed and international missions on the horizon, ISRO’s focus remains on ensuring flawless rocket performance and advancing India’s space capabilities.
IT.
