India’s try and launch an Earth-observing radar satellite tv for pc tonight (Could 17) resulted in failure.
The Indian Space Research Organisation‘s (ISRO) EOS-09 spacecraft lifted off atop a Polar Satellite tv for pc Launch Automobile (PSLV) rocket from Satish Dhawan House Centre on Saturday at 8:29 p.m. EDT (0029 GMT or 5:59 a.m. India Normal Time on Sunday, Could 18). The satellite tv for pc was misplaced as a result of a difficulty with the third stage of the rocket about six minutes into the launch.
“The PSLV is a 4 stage car. As much as the second stage, the efficiency was fairly regular,” ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said in a televised statement after the launch. “Third stage, motor began completely, however through the functioning of the third stage, we’re seeing a statement, and the mission couldn’t be achieved. After evaluation, we will come again.”
ISRO officers reported the identical assertion on social media, referring to the rocket as PSLV-C61.
“PSLV-C61 efficiency was regular until 2nd stage. As a result of an statement in third stage, the mission couldn’t be achieved,” ISRO stated on X.
As we speak a hundred and first launch was tried, PSLV-C61 efficiency was regular until 2nd stage. As a result of an statement in third stage, the mission couldn’t be achieved.May 18, 2025
The EOS-09 launch was supposed because the ninth mission in India’s Earth Commentary Satellite tv for pc collection. The satellite was outfitted with an artificial aperture radar (SAR) payload, which had been it efficiently deployed, would have allowed observations of our planet each day and night time and thru cloud cowl.
The three,735-pound (1,694 kilograms) EOS-09 had been scheduled to deploy from the PSLV’s higher stage about 18 minutes after liftoff, at an altitude of 332 miles (535 kilometers).
“Its capacity to supply round the clock, dependable intelligence is very important given ongoing safety issues alongside India’s borders with Pakistan and China,” India Today wrote, earlier than the launch failure.
EOS-09 was the second orbital liftoff of the 12 months for India. The primary occurred in January, when a Geosynchronous Satellite tv for pc Launch Automobile launched the NVS-02 navigation spacecraft to the ultimate frontier.
Tonight’s launch was the a hundred and first to this point for ISRO and the 63rd for the four-stage, 146-foot-tall (44.5 meters) PSLV. The workhorse rocket was flying in its “XL” configuration, which featured six strap-on stable rocket boosters. This was solely the third failure within the rocket’s 32-year historical past.
