ISRO set up a committee to investigate the PSLV C-61 Failure

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set up a committee to identify the causes of the PSLV C-61 rocket's failure. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced this on 18 May 2025 in Bengaluru. He said that, notwithstanding the failure of the PSLVC-61 rocket, ISRO will continue to launch at least one mission per month in 2025.

This was the third failure of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The first failure was on 20 September 1993, when a developmental rocket, PSLV-D1, failed. Another failure was on 31st August 2017 when the PSLVC-39 mission failed.

PSLV C-61 and its Satellite 

PSLV C-61 rocket was launched on 18 May 2025 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

This was ISRO's 101st launch from Sriharikota. The first rocket was launched from Sriharikota in 1971.

It was also the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle's 63rd flight and the 27th using the PSLV-XL configuration (used for carrying heavier payloads). 

It carried an Earth Observation Satellite or remote sensing satellite, EOS-09, which was to be placed into a sun-synchronous polar orbit. The 1696.24 kg EOS-9 satellite was a radar imaging satellite with all-weather capability to capture images of Earth for various applications in agriculture, industry, urban planning, etc.

According to ISRO, the first two stages of the PSLV rocket performed perfectly, but an error in the third stage led to the rocket's failure and its mission.

About the PSLV Rocket 

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is one of ISRO's three main satellite launch vehicles, the others being the GSLV(Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) and LVM3(Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III).

ISRO is also developing a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HRLV).

PSLV is considered the most versatile launch vehicle of ISRO and is also called its workhorse.

PSLV is configured with four variants, such as 6,4,2 solid rocket strap-on motors and core-assisted versions. 

Depending upon the satellites and their weight, ISRO chooses one of the four variants of PSLV.

PSLV rockets can launch Earth Observation, Geostationary, and Navigation satellites.

The PSLV C-61 rocket was an XL variant of the PSLV. It was a four-stage rocket, with the first stage having six strap-on motors and a 134-tonne solid propulsion system. The second stage uses a 40-tonne liquid propulsion system, the third has an 8-tonne solid propulsion system, and the fourth uses a liquid propulsion system. 

About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Established--15 August 1969

It is India’s premier space research organisation.

Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Chairman: V Narayanan 

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