Latest news with #PolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle
India Today
26-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Isro ground PSLV fleet after launch disaster, continues to prep for Nisar launch
Days after the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle failed moments after launch, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has temporarily grounded its trusted PSLV development comes following the failure of the PSLV-C61 mission on May 18, which was carrying the advanced EOS-09 earth observation decision comes as a high-level committee investigates the anomaly that led to the rocket's third-stage malfunction, resulting in the loss of the satellite and rocket over the Indian The PSLV, renowned for its 94% success rate with only four failures in 64 missions, encountered a rare setback when the third stage of PSLV-C61 suffered a sudden drop in chamber pressure, causing a loss of the first two stages performing reliably, the third stage's solid-fuel motor did not generate sufficient thrust, and the mission was aborted less than seven minutes after suspect a rupture in the fibre casing of the third-stage motor as a possible cause, with hot gases from the burning fuel potentially entering sensitive EOS-09 satellite, equipped with a sophisticated Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of all-weather, day-and-night imaging, was intended to support environmental monitoring, disaster response, and national security loss is a significant operational setback for Isro, but officials remain confident in a swift the PSLV grounding, Isro's other launch vehicles remain for the high-profile Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) mission, scheduled for launch in June 2025 aboard a GSLV rocket, are proceeding as Nisar mission, a $1.5 billion collaboration with Nasa, will deploy one of the world's most advanced radar imaging satellites to monitor Earth's changing systems and natural and external expert committees are now scrutinising telemetry and system diagnostics from the failed PSLV mission, with a detailed report expected by officials stress that the temporary grounding of PSLV is a standard safety measure and will not impact the schedule of other critical missions, including Nisar and the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight Isro investigates the rare PSLV failure, its focus remains on ensuring flawless operations for future launches, particularly with ambitious crewed and international missions on the Watch
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Crewed missions ahead, Isro needs zero-flaw operations
The May 18 failure of India's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket to deliver sophisticated earth observation satellite EOS-09 to its intended orbit in space is a hard knock for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The four-stage PSLV-C61 launcher lifted off with the EOS-09 satellite sharp at 5.59 am from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The first two stages performed reliably, but the problem began after the third stage fired. The PSLV-C61 lost thrust, and the remaining third and the fourth stage (latter nestling EOS-09) crashed into the sea. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan suspects it happened due to a fall in pressure in the PSLV-C61's third-stage motor chamber carrying Hydroxyl-terminated Polybutadiene as the solid propellant. Rocket propulsion experts understand that pressure in a rocket motor's combustion chamber can fall due to changes in the burning rate and surface area of the propellant or from issues within the nozzle, whether erosion or burning surface area. This caused a loss of thrust, preventing the PSLV-C61 from reaching the intended altitude of 534 km to release EOS-09 in its orbit and crashing about five minutes after launch.
NDTV
24-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
ISRO Rocket Fails 7 Minutes Into Flight, National Panel Set Up To Find Out Why
New Delhi: ISRO could not accomplish the launch of a key Earth observation satellite on Sunday after the rocket carrying it, the workhorse PSLV-C61, failed mid-air, less than seven minutes after it took off. Determined to find the root cause of the failure, the space agency has set up a National Failure Analysis Committee and a complete audit of the rocket is underway, with all systems being reviewed thoroughly. The committee, more than half of whose members are from premier institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), is expected to submit its report around the middle of next month. A set of voluminous data has already been shared with the panel. ISRO has also set up several internal committees to scrutinise every aspect of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which is a highly dependable rocket, with a reliability of over 94% and just four failures in 63 launches - an enviable track record. Sources in the space agency said only the PSLV, and no other rocket, has been put on hold since its third stage uses a solid fuel motor, which is unique to it. The final call, they indicated, will be taken on future launches only after the National Failure Analysis Committee submits its report and ISRO fixes the problem. Giving an analogy, an expert said each rocket is like a child. "If one child falls down, can you ask the entire village to stop walking?" he quipped. A notice to airmen (or NOTAM), has, meanwhile, already been issued for the launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-2 or GSLV F-16 to fly between June 18 and July 17. The rocket, initially dubbed 'ISRO's naughty boy' and eventually tamed, is all set to fly the world's most expensive civilian Earth imaging satellite, named the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite or NISAR. It has been built by India and the US at a cost of $1.5 billion. Third-Stage Issue NDTV had earlier reported that a 'misbehaviour' of the third stage rocket motor may have contributed to the failure of the PSLV-C61, which was launching the EOS-9 surveillance satellite. The PSLV-C61 was travelling at 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. 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. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said there was a "fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case". Dr G Madhavan Nair, former Chairman of ISRO, 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". This remains the main suspect, but all angles are being investigated. The PSLV is a much-sought-after vehicle globally and India's launch site offers a unique location to maximally use its potential.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, HeLa cells and more (Week 111)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Science and Technology to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity, consider the following statements: 1. Mach's principle states that the mass of every object in the universe is affected by its interaction with every other object was central to the Hoyle-Narlikar gravity theory. 2. Einstein was greatly inspired by the principle and incorporated it into his theory. 3. The Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity proposed a 'creation field' (C-field), a hypothetical negative-energy field responsible for the continuous creation of matter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — Jayant Narlikar, an eminent Indian astronomer, science communicator, and Padma Vibhushan recipient, died at the age of 87. — He was best known for proposing the Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity (also known as conformal gravity), which he developed in 1964 with English astronomer and professor Fred Hoyle. The hypothesis intended to improve upon Albert Einstein's General hypothesis of Relativity, which was published in 1915. — Mach's principle, which states that every object's mass is changed by its interaction with every other object, is central to the Hoyle-Narlikar gravity theory. The notion profoundly intrigued Einstein, but he was unable to incorporate it into his theories. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct. — The Hoyle-Narlikar gravity theory also proposed a 'creation field' (C-field), which is a hypothetical negative-energy field that is responsible for the continual formation of matter. This helps to explain the steady-state cosmology, which holds that the universe has no beginning and would exist indefinitely. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — The Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity was not widely accepted, particularly following the discovery of cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation in 1965. The CMB, also known as an echo or shockwave of the Big Bang, is a cooled remnant of the first light to flow freely throughout the cosmos. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Which of the following missions of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) have failed? 1. EOS-07 mission 2. Inaugural flight in 1993 3. C-39 mission Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 3 only Explanation — The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) 101st satellite launch failed. The Earth observation satellite EOS-09 was aboard the PSLV-C61 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). — This was the 63rd PSLV launch. Since their introduction in the 1990s, PSLVs have only failed twice – the first during the inaugural flight in 1993 and in 2017, when the C-39 mission was unsuccessful. Here is why PSLVs have become reliable for India's Space agency and what happened during the two failed missions. — ISRO has three types of launchers: the PSLV, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III (LVM3). Variants are chosen based on the cargo weights and the orbit they will reach. — PSLV: Satellites used for navigation, mapping, or other functions must be transported into space by launch vehicles or rockets such as the PSLV. The rockets feature powerful propulsion systems that create massive amounts of energy, which is required to lift large things such as satellites into space while resisting the Earth's gravitational pull. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the stars, consider the following statements: 1. Regardless of duration, all stars survive by maintaining a balance between two competing forces: the inward pull of gravity and the outward pressure produced by nuclear energy. 2. In the dense core of a star, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into helium. 3. When a star's fuel is exhausted, gravity takes over — and then the nature of its death depends entirely on its mass. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The stars in the sky seem to shine forever, but they too are subject to lifespans determined by their mass and internal physics. Some last for billions of years and others are transitory in comparison, with far shorter lifetimes. — Regardless of duration, all stars survive by maintaining a balance between two competing forces: the inward pull of gravity and the outward pressure produced by nuclear energy. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — In the dense core of a star, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into helium. This process occurs when extremely high temperatures and pressures allow atomic nuclei, which are ordinarily repelled by positive charges, to collide and fuse, releasing massive energy. That energy heats the surrounding gas, resulting in thermal and radiation pressure that prevents gravitational collapse. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — This beautiful explanation of how stars glow was not previously known. Only in 1938, while taking a train to Ithaca, New York, did German-American physicist Hans Bethe scribble down the equations detailing how nuclear fusion powers stars, a breakthrough that earned him the Nobel Prize and resolved one of astrophysics' most pressing mysteries. — But even fusion has its limits. When a star's fuel is exhausted, gravity takes over — and then the nature of its death depends entirely on its mass. Hence, statement 3 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements about HeLa cells: 1. They were the first successfully cloned human cells. 2. These cells contributed to the identification of the Bovine Papillomaviruses (BPV) as the primary cause of many types of cervical cancer. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The HeLa cell line is one of the most important cell lines in the history of medical science and has been the foundation for some of the most significant advances in this field. — HeLa cells were the first successfully cloned human cells, and Jonas Salk used them to test the polio vaccine. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Furthermore, they contributed to the identification of the human papillomavirus (HPV) as the primary cause of many types of cervical cancer, including the one that killed Lacks, and were instrumental in the development of the HPV vaccine, which earned its creator, Harald zur Hausen, the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to the JN.1 variant of COVID, consider the following statements: 1. It is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant. 2. This variant is distinguished by its heightened transmissibility and potential to evade immune responses, even in the vaccinated population. 3. JN.1 is most likely to affect the elderly individual and those with underlying health conditions. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — The JN.1 variant is not entirely new, it is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant that has been circulating globally for some time. — This version is distinguished by its heightened transmissibility and potential to evade immune responses, even in the vaccinated population, according to Dr Harish Chafle, senior consultant, intensivist chest physician, bronchoscopist, and sleep disorders expert at Gleneagles Hospital in Parel, Mumbai. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — JN.1 is a sublineage of the Omicron type that is currently being closely monitored by the World Health Organisation. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — JN.1 is most likely to impact people with low immune systems, the elderly, and those who have pre-existing health and healthy adults may also get the virus, but they are likely to recover without significant consequences. Hence, statement 3 is correct. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 111) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 111) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 110) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 110) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 110) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 110) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
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.
