The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a major setback on May 18, 2025, as its PSLV-C61 mission failed to deploy the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite into orbit
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a major setback on May 18, 2025, as its PSLV-C61 mission failed to deploy the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite into orbit. The launch, conducted from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, was expected to enhance India’s satellite imaging capabilities. However, an anomaly in the rocket’s third stage prevented the satellite from reaching its intended orbit.
Despite the failure, ISRO remains optimistic, stating that the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) continues to be one of the most reliable launch vehicles globally.
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What Went Wrong?
ISRO confirmed that the PSLV-C61 performed normally until the second stage but encountered an issue in the third stage, leading to mission failure.
Launch Time: 5:59 AM IST
Rocket Type: PSLV-C61 (XL Configuration)
Satellite Weight: 1,696 kg
Intended Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO)
The third-stage anomaly prevented EOS-09 from achieving orbit, marking ISRO’s third PSLV failure in history.
Significance of EOS-09
EOS-09 was designed to enhance India’s Earth observation capabilities with its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology. The satellite was expected to support:
- Agriculture monitoring
- Disaster management
- Border surveillance
- Urban planning
The failure means India will have to reassess its satellite imaging strategy and possibly relaunch a similar mission in the future.
ISRO’s Response & Future Plans
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath acknowledged the failure, stating that a detailed investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause.
ISRO’s Statement: “PSLV-C61 performance was normal till the second stage. Due to an observation in the third stage, the mission could not be accomplished.”
Despite the setback, ISRO remains committed to strengthening India’s space program and ensuring future missions are error-free.
Conclusion
The PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission failure is a temporary setback for ISRO, but the organization remains resilient. With a detailed investigation underway, ISRO aims to learn from this failure and improve future launches.
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