Reference:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission on May 18, 2025, but it failed due to a technical malfunction in the third stage.

Mission Overview and Launch Details:

Launch Details:

• Date and Time: May 18, 2025, 5:59 AM IST
• Flight Number: PSLV-C61 (63rd PSLV flight, 27th flight of XL configuration)
• Launch Site and Pad: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, First Launch Pad
• Rocket Type: PSLV-XL four-stage launch vehicle

Flight Sequence:

• PS1 Ignition & Cutoff: Successful performance of the first stage
• PS2 Ignition & Cutoff: Normal performance of the second stage
• PS3 Ignition & Anomaly: Pressure drop in the third stage, leading to mission failure

Satellite EOS-09 - Nature and Function:

Design Basis:

• EOS-09, also known as RISAT-1B, is the next in ISRO's RISAT cluster, emulating the successful flight of EOS-04.
• It is equipped with a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument, enabling the acquisition of high-resolution images even through clouds or in darkness.

Key Features:

• Five Imaging Modes: From ultra-high resolution to extended area scanning
• Operational Applications: Contribution to agriculture, disaster management, environmental monitoring, national security, and resource surveys
• Launch Mass: Approximately 1696.24 kilograms

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):

• Full Name: Indian Space Research Organisation – ISRO
• Establishment: August 15, 1969
• Founder: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Current Chairman: V. Narayanan
• Function: Conducting and developing India's space program

Significant Launch Vehicles:

• PSLV: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
• GSLV: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
• SSLV: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
• LMV: Launch Vehicle Mark Series

Major Satellite Missions:

• INSAT Series: Communication and weather satellites
• IRS Series: Remote sensing satellites
• NAVIC: India's Regional Navigation Satellite System
• RISAT, Cartosat, Oceansat: For Earth observation

Famous Space Missions:

• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): India's first lunar mission
• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Orbiter successful; Lander partially failed
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Successful lunar landing
• Mars Orbiter Mission: Mangalyaan (2013) – Successful in the first attempt
• Aditya-L1 (2023): Mission to study the Sun
• Gaganyaan Mission: Human spaceflight (in progress)

Major Research Centers:

• Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR): Sriharikota (Launch Centre)
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC): Thiruvananthapuram
• U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC): Bengaluru
• ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC): Communication and tracking