Overview

• The PSLV-C61 mission failed to place the EOS-09 satellite into its intended sun-synchronous polar orbit due to a third-stage engine pressure anomaly.
• This marks the fourth failure in 63 PSLV launches since its debut in 1993, highlighting the rocket's overall reliability despite rare setbacks.
• EOS-09, a radar imaging satellite designed for day-and-night, all-weather surveillance, was equipped with debris-mitigation features for end-of-life disposal.
• ISRO has convened a post-flight analysis committee to identify the root cause of the anomaly and recommend corrective measures for future missions.
• The failure comes amid ISRO's broader efforts to expand its satellite capabilities, including strategic and disaster-monitoring applications.