Latest news with #EOS-9
India.com
19-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
Explainer: Why ISRO's PSLV Mission With EOS-9 Satellite Failed And What It Means
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a rare setback in the early hours of May 18 as its highly anticipated PSLV-C61 mission, the 63rd flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), failed to deliver its payload – the EOS-9 satellite – into orbit. The mission took off at 5:59 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Initial signs were promising. The rocket cleared the first and second stages of flight successfully – the early benchmarks of any PSLV launch. However, it was during the third stage that a sudden drop in chamber pressure led to an anomaly, effectively ending the mission before the satellite could be placed into its intended orbit. The third stage of the PSLV uses a solid rocket motor, which provides high thrust once the vehicle has exited the dense layers of the atmosphere. In this flight, although ignition occurred as expected, sensors recorded a drop in pressure within the chamber – indicating a failure in the propulsion process. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the technical anomaly and stated that a detailed analysis was already underway. This launch was significant as the PSLV has been a workhorse for ISRO – known for its reliability, having successfully delivered missions like Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan. The failure marks a rare blemish in its otherwise solid track record. It was also ISRO's 101st mission from Sriharikota. Now, both an internal Failure Analysis Committee and an external government-appointed review body are expected to investigate the root cause. These panels typically deliver a comprehensive assessment within weeks, which then guides corrective action for future missions. The payload – Earth Observation Satellite 9 (EOS-9) – was designed for continuous surveillance, including border monitoring, disaster response, urban planning and agricultural management. Of particular importance was its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), enabling day-and-night, all-weather imaging – a key asset for national security and civil planning. The failed deployment of EOS-9 means a temporary gap in ISRO's remote sensing capabilities. While other satellites, such as Cartosats and radar platforms, remain operational, the unique capabilities of EOS-9 will now be missed. Its replacement, once commissioned, could take years to be developed and launched. The mission had also integrated space sustainability into its design. EOS-9 was equipped with extra fuel to perform a planned de-orbit maneuver at the end of its lifecycle, ensuring it would not contribute to space debris – a growing global concern. Despite the setback, ISRO's long-term record and response mechanisms reflect a strong system built on transparency and technical rigor.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
'Misbehaviour' By Rocket Motor Failed ISRO's EOS-9 Satellite Launch. What Next
On board the rocket was EOS-9, designed to provide continuous and reliable remote sensing data for operational applications across various sectors. The 'misbehaviour' of the rocket motor may have contributed to the failure of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) workhorse rocket on its 63rd flight, experts suggest. ISRO's 63rd Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launch to place into orbit the EOS-9 surveillance satellite could not be accomplished after PSLV-C61 encountered anomalies in the third of its four stages. The PSLV-C61 was travelling at a phenomenal 20,160 km per hour - about 28 times the speed of an airplane - when some 888 km downrange from Sriharikota over the Indian Ocean, it tumbled down 6.26 minutes into its nearly 18-minute flight. Advertisement - Scroll to continue Experts say the third stage did not explode, as speculated. In fact, as the rocket coasted along while losing altitude and thrust, even the fourth stage was probably ignited. It is still being analysed why the rocket motor "misbehaved" 100 seconds after it ignited the third stage. The rocket debris and the satellite today rests deep inside the Indian Ocean. Usually, ISRO tries to recover the debris for hardware failure analysis but the deep depths of the Indian Ocean pose a challenge. "Today, we targeted the 101st launch from Sriharikota, the PSLVC6-1 EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle and up to the second stage, the performance was normal. The third stage motor started perfectly, but during the functioning, we are seeing an observation and the mission could not be accomplished," ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said after the unsuccessful launch. Mr Narayanan said there was a "fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case". "We are studying the entire performance. We shall come back at the earliest," he added. Experts suggest that on the third stage of the rocket motor, there are two vulnerable points - a nozzle at the bottom and the Kevlar joint and sheathing at the top. It seems hot gases from the burning Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) fuel entered some sensitive areas and caused the failure. Dr G Madhavan Nair, former Chairman of ISRO, said he was "shocked and surprised that the solid-fuelled rocket motor with an enviable record of 62 successive launches failed like this". Dr Nair, a rocket specialist who played a key role as project director in mastering the PSLV rocket, estimates that a "possible rupture in the fibre casing of the nearly 8-tonne rocket motor could have been the cause of the failure". Dr Nair also suggested a quality control or check-out lapse. All About Earth Observation Satellite-9 (EOS-9), On Board PSLV-C61 On board the rocket was the Earth Observation Satellite-9 (EOS-9), designed to provide continuous and reliable remote sensing data for operational applications across various sectors. Had it been placed into orbit 500 km above the Earth's surface, it would have enhanced India's surveillance capabilities days after India-Pakistan hostilities. Its replacement will take a few years to build. Though EOS-9 couldn't be put into orbit, four radar satellites and eight Cartosats continue to maintain vigil. EOS-9, however, had the capability to continue surveillance in all-weather conditions and at night because of its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Apart from maintaining a hawk's eye along India's borders, it would have been vital for applications ranging from agriculture and forestry monitoring to disaster management, urban planning and national security. ISRO's EOS-9 Satellite Launch Failed. What Next In 63 launches, the PSLV has failed just four times. With a success rate of over 94 per cent, PSLV is considered a highly reliable rocket. On its last launch on December 30, 2024, it gave India the highly challenging SpaDex mission. Earlier, on December 5, 2024, it gave a precise launch to the European Space Agency on its Proba-3 satellite mission. Usually, an internal ISRO 'failure analysis committee' is established, which delivers its findings in a time-bound manner. Occasionally, if the government desires, an external failure analysis committee comprising non-ISRO experts also looks into such setbacks. ISRO usually does not take insurance for its missions as the sovereign government takes the liability. "ISRO always does thorough failure investigation and fixes the problems," says Dr Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, who has been part of some of these committees. The current ISRO chairman, a rocket specialist, headed the committee that fixed the problem encountered in the lander of Chandrayaan-2. When it was fixed, ISRO bounced back with a highly successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. In the past the committee reports were made public, but in recent times, they have been kept under wraps. This, from an agency where even the junior most engineer has the liberty to question the chairman of ISRO on technical grounds. At least six critical missions are lined up for the PSLV, including the first non-ISRO-manufactured PSLV rocket spearheaded by a consortium of L&T and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It could be impacted by some delays. ISRO is not deterred by the setback. Former ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath is confident the space agency will soon dissect the anomaly and chalk out a way forward. Experts say ISRO has the tenacity to bounce back very quickly from yesterday's setback. "I am aware of the formidable challenges we faced during the development of the third-stage solid motor -- an endeavour marked by multiple failures. It is indeed unusual to witness such anomalies resurfacing at this stage. Nevertheless, I have complete confidence that the team will identify the root cause both swiftly and effectively," Dr Somanath said. "Over the years, such challenges have only strengthened our conviction that failure is never defeat, but rather a formidable tutor. Every towering success of ISRO has been forged in the crucible of adversity -- shaped by lessons deeply learnt and courageously applied." Sign up to read this article FREE! Exclusive Stories: Dive into content reserved just for members. Fewer Ads: A cleaner, more enjoyable reading experience. Enhanced Interface: Tailored just for you. Join Now – It's Free!
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First Post
19-05-2025
- Science
- First Post
EOS-09 mission: Why failure of Isro's PSLV launch is so rare
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) faced a setback on Sunday (May 18) after its 63rd PSLV mission to launch the EOS-9 surveillance satellite failed. The mission aimed to place an Earth observation satellite in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of about 597 km. Since its debut in 1993, the PSLV has faced only two failures during launch – the first time in 1993 and again in 2017 read more The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) suffered a setback on Sunday (May 18) after its 63rd PSLV mission to place the EOS-9 surveillance satellite in orbit failed. The Earth observation satellite, launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), encountered a failure due to a pressure problem in the third stage of the rocket. Isro Chairman V Narayanan said that the PSLV is made up of four stages and that the first two stages performed as expected. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | Will Indian rockets take crew to world's first commercial space station? This failure is considered rare, as the PSLV has been a reliable launch vehicle for India's space missions. Since its first flight, the rocket has failed only twice - the first time in 1993 and again in 2017. But why do PSLV launch failures happen so rarely? In this explainer, we break down why PSLV launch failures are rare, what caused the earlier failures, and what the Isro chief said about this latest attempt. Before diving into that, here's a brief look at what PSLVs are. What is PSLV? Satellites used for navigation, mapping, and other tasks are sent into Space using launch vehicles or rockets, such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). These rockets have strong engines that produce the energy needed to lift heavy payloads like satellites into orbit, pushing against the pull of Earth's gravity. Isro's PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 at the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota. PTI The PSLV can carry more than one payload at a time. To do this, it uses special structures called multi-payload adaptors inside the top section of the rocket, known as the payload fairing, according to Isro. Notably, PSLV earned the title 'the workhorse of Isro' by reliably placing a wide range of satellites into low Earth orbit, as per the space agency. ALSO READ | What is Axiom-4 Mission that India's Sudhanshu Shukla will pilot to space? Why PSLV launch failures are rare Since the PSLV's first launch in 1993, it has rarely failed. Only a few missions have faced problems over the years. When failures have occurred, they were mostly caused by issues with how different stages of the rocket separate or by problems in the rocket's engine system. These could include trouble in controlling the rocket's direction or underperformance during a stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In September 1993, the PSLV-D1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota to carry the IRS-1E remote sensing satellite into Low Earth Orbit (an altitude of 2,000 km or less). But the mission did not succeed. A fault in the rocket's onboard software caused it to miss orbit and fall into the ocean. The next failure came in 2017, when the rocket's payload fairing failed to detach. This left the satellite stuck inside the rocket. Isro called the mission unsuccessful after the final stage ended, marking the first failure since 1993. In the case of PSLV-C61, failures like this may be caused by several reasons – from problems in the propulsion stages, mistakes during separation of the rocket stages, or faults in how the rocket is guided and controlled. PSLV-C61 rocket carrying Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09) lifts off from the first launch pad. PTI/File Photo What happened this time? This was Isro's 101st launch from Sriharikota. The mission aimed to place an Earth observation satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of around 597 km. In this type of orbit, the satellite would pass over the same location at the same local time each day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches PSLV-C61, which carries the EOS-09 (Earth Observation Satellite-09) into a SSPO orbit, from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. EOS-09 is a repeat satellite of EOS-04, designed with the mission objective to ensure remote… — ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2025 If the mission had gone as planned, Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) would have been fired to lower the altitude of the PS4 stage after the EOS-09 satellite was deployed. The rocket stage would then have been passivated to shorten its time in orbit. The satellite carried a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, designed to capture Earth images in all weather conditions for a variety of observation uses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD EOS-09 is a follow-up to EOS-04 and is intended to supply remote sensing data to users involved in operational tasks. It also aims to increase the frequency of such observations, according to Isro. Isro Chairman V Narayanan explained that the issue occurred during the third stage of the launch. PTI What led to the failure then? Isro Chairman V Narayanan explained that the issue occurred during the third stage of the launch. He said there was a 'fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case,' which led to the failure. VIDEO | Explaining the failure of PSLV-C61 vehicle launch mission, ISRO chairman V Narayanan says, "Today we attempted a launch of PSLV-C61 vehicle, the vehicle is a four stage vehicle, first two stages were performed as expected, during the third stage, it's a solid motor… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 18, 2025 'Today, we targeted the 101st launch from Sriharikota, the PSLVC61 EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle, and up to the second stage, the performance was normal. The third stage motor started perfectly, but during the functioning of the third stage, we are seeing an observation,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '…and the motor pressure–there was a fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case, and the mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the entire performance, we shall come back at the earliest,' he added, as reported by PTI. The space agency has set up a failure analysis committee to carefully study the flight and telemetry data to find out what went wrong and to put in place steps to prevent it from happening again. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
18-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
ISRO Rocket Launch Failed Due To Pressure Drop In 3rd Stage
New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) 63rd PSLV launch to put the EOS-9 surveillance satellite in orbit could not be accomplished as the launch failed during the third of four stages due to a fall in pressure. The space agency said the on Sunday morning that an anomaly during the solid fuel stage was observed after successful first and second stages, minutes after PSLV's lift-off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. ISRO's workhorse rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle's (PSLV) launch failed due to a fall in chamber pressure. On board the rocket was the Earth Observation Satellite - 9 (EOS-9), designed to provide continuous and reliable remote sensing data for operational applications across various sectors. Had it been places into orbit 500 kilometres above the Earth's surface, it would have enhanced India's surveillance capabilities shortly after a ceasefire brought cross-border tensions to a halt. Though EOS-9 was not put into orbit today, four radar satellites and eight high cartosats continue to maintain vigil. EOS-9, however, had the capability to continue surveillance in all weather conditions and at night.
NDTV
17-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
With ISRO Satellite Launch, Night-Time Surveillance Capability To Get Boost
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch a satellite that can see through clouds and at night, adding more muscle to India's satellite-based surveillance capability as New Delhi stays alert despite calm along the border with Pakistan. Scheduled for launch on Sunday at 5.59 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, the radar satellite will be launched into orbit on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). In the 101st launch of a big rocket by ISRO, the 1,696-kilogram EOS-9 radar imaging satellite will be stationed over 500 kilometres above the Earth's surface. The indigenously-made "spy" satellite, designed by ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Center in Bengaluru, is equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar, enabling it to capture high-resolution images of the Earth's surface under all weather conditions and in low light. EOS-9 will be an addition to the existing constellation of over 50 satellites India already has in space. These include seven radar satellites in orbit, which kept a watch on the borders as India-Pakistan tensions rose after the April 22 Pahagam attack and military action from both sides followed. The satellite will provide significantly better imagery as compared to the Cartosat-3 satellite, which gets blinded at night. The latter can beam down images with a resolution of less half a meter from its low Earth Orbit. ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said, "At least 10 satellites are working round-the-clock to ensure the safety and security of the country. The nation has to monitor its 7,000-km seashore areas and the entire northern part. Without satellite and drone technology, the country can't achieve that." Talking about the mission, Union Minister for Space and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said, "Precision, teamwork and engineering powers India's space ambitions." The launch will be attended by several Members of Parliament.
