New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has initiated an investigation after a technical anomaly in its PSLV-C61 mission prevented the Earth observation satellite EOS-09 from reaching its designated orbit. The agency has constituted a high-level committee to probe the glitch, which occurred during the third stage of the launch sequence.
The PSLV-C61 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5:59 AM yesterday following a 22-hour countdown. While the rocket’s first two stages performed as expected, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan confirmed that an issue arose in the third stage, causing the mission to deviate from its intended trajectory.
“Preliminary analysis shows that the first and second stages functioned normally. However, an anomaly was detected in the third stage, which impacted the deployment of EOS-09,” Dr. Narayanan stated. He added that the investigation committee held multiple sessions yesterday to assess the sequence of events and identify the root cause of the malfunction.
Despite the setback, ISRO remains committed to its ambitious launch schedule. Dr. Narayanan assured that the agency will continue with its planned missions, with one launch scheduled each month throughout the year.
The EOS-09 satellite was intended to enhance Earth observation capabilities, contributing to sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and disaster management.
