ISRO Forms Expert Panel to Probe PSLV-C61 Mission Failure
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established a high-level committee to investigate the failure of its PSLV-C61 mission, which aimed to place the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09) into orbit. The mission, launched on Sunday, May 18, from Sriharikota, encountered an anomaly during flight that prevented the satellite from reaching its intended destination.
ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space, V. Narayanan, confirmed this development and expressed regret over the failed mission. “This was our 101st launch from Sriharikota. While the initial stages of the launch progressed smoothly, we observed a drop in chamber pressure in the third stage, which led to the mission’s failure,” Narayanan stated.
The PSLV-C61 is a four-stage launch vehicle powered by a combination of solid and liquid propulsion systems. The first stage features a 134-tonne solid propulsion system, along with six strap-on motors containing 12 tonnes of propellant each. The second stage is driven by a 40-tonne liquid propulsion system, the third stage utilizes an 8-tonne solid system, and the fourth stage again employs liquid propulsion.
After a 22-hour countdown, the launch occurred at 5:59 AM IST, with all stages performing as expected until the third stage. “The first two stages completed successfully, but the anomaly in the third stage made it evident that the mission could not be accomplished,” Narayanan added.
Following the failure, ISRO has conducted several discussions with the expert committee to investigate the root cause. The committee will review flight data to identify the exact reason for the drop in pressure and the subsequent failure.
“The committee has already begun its work, and we will share detailed findings once the cause is identified. Unfortunately, the mission could not be completed, but this setback will not deter our plans,” Narayanan said.
Despite the incident, ISRO is maintaining its launch schedule. “We have planned one mission each month this year, and we will continue with our upcoming launches,” he reaffirmed, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to India’s space ambitions.
The PSLV-C61 mission’s failure serves as a reminder of the challenges involved in space missions, even for a highly reliable vehicle like the PSLV, which has a long history of successful launches.
