A Brief Recap of the ISRO's Failed Mission
Initial observations indicate reasons behind the EOS-09 satellite mission's failure, as unveiled by ISRO.
Let's dive into the nuts and bolts of ISRO's latest venture, shall we? On a fateful Sunday morning at 5.59 am, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tried its hand at their 101st launch, with the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C61 taking flight from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Hitching a ride was EOS 09, an earth observation satellite destined for a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).
But the mission took a turn for the worse just minutes after liftoff. The otherwise reliable PSLV C61 suffered a setback during its third stage, as it was hit by a technical glitch. As a result, the satellite deployment was unsuccessful[1].
It's all About that Third Stage
So, what exactly went wrong? Well, according to ISRO's Chairman, V Narayanan, the PSLV is a four-stage rocket, and the first two stages performed faultlessly. However, during the third stage, a crucial issue arose—a "drop in the chamber pressure of the motor case"[2][5]. This anomaly ultimately foiled the mission.
In other words, as the third stage Motor started operating smoothly, they observed an anomaly, resulting in a decrease in chamber pressure within the motor case. This development scuttled the mission[2][3].
The Ambitions of EOS-09
EOS-09 is essentially a replicate of EOS-04, aiming to deliver remote sensing data for operational application purposes and boost the frequency of observation, as per ISRO[4].
Had the mission succeeded, the Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) would have been used to diminish the altitude of the PS4 stage, followed by passivation to limit its orbital lifespan once EOS-09 was safely deployed[4]. The satellite boasted a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, capable of providing all-weather earth observation images for various applications[4].
In the Rear View Mirror
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre
- Isro
- Isro Missions
- Pslv
Stay tuned for the latest updates in the ever-evolving world of space exploration! Keep your eyes peeled, folks—there's always a new adventure on the horizon!
Remember also to peruse other intriguing narratives on our platform, such as the news of the breathtaking collision of a huge Mexican Navy training ship with the Brooklyn Bridge or the latest meteorological forecast[6].
[1] [original link omitted][2] [original link omitted][3] [original link omitted][4] [original link omitted][5] [original link omitted][6] [original link omitted]
Despite the setback in the third stage of the ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C61 mission, India's ambition to advance in space-and-astronomy remains undeterred. In a matter of science and technology, the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload onboard EOS-09, a replica of EOS-04, could have provided valuable all-weather earth observation images for various applications if the mission had been successful.
