Sriharikota, India – On Sunday, May 18, 2025, India’s space ambitions encountered an unusual hurdle when the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C61) failed to deploy the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite into orbit. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported that a technical glitch during the rocket’s third stage led to the mission’s abrupt halt.
According to ISRO officials, the rocket, launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh, experienced an unexpected drop in chamber pressure in its third-stage motor. “The anomaly in the motor case pressure prevented the satellite from reaching its intended orbit,” said ISRO’s leadership in a statement. The agency has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation, with a Failure Analysis Committee already tasked with pinpointing the cause of the malfunction.
This incident marks only the third failure in the PSLV’s storied history since its inaugural flight in 1993. Known for its reliability and cost-efficiency, the PSLV has been a cornerstone of India’s space program, successfully launching numerous domestic and international satellites. The rare misstep comes as a surprise to observers who have lauded ISRO’s consistent track record.
India’s space journey has been marked by remarkable achievements. In 2014, ISRO made history as the first Asian space agency to orbit Mars, a feat that underscored its growing prowess. More recently, in 2023, India joined an elite group of nations—Russia, the United States, and China—by successfully landing a spacecraft on the Moon. These milestones have solidified ISRO’s reputation as a formidable player in the global space arena.
The EOS-09 satellite was designed to enhance India’s Earth observation capabilities, providing critical data for environmental monitoring, disaster management, and strategic surveillance. While the loss of the mission is a setback, ISRO’s leadership remains optimistic. “We are analyzing the data and will implement corrective measures to ensure future success,” an ISRO spokesperson noted.
The global space community continues to watch ISRO closely, as the agency balances ambitious projects with its hallmark cost-effectiveness. With a robust pipeline of upcoming missions, including interplanetary explorations and commercial satellite launches, India’s space program is poised to rebound swiftly from this rare hiccup.
