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Setback : ISRO’s Ambitious 101st Mission Fails To Take Off ; Pressure Issue Cited As Reason
Although the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) made a textbook lift-off at the prefixed time of 5.59 am, the mission objectives, however, could not be achieved.
Picture : ISRO/ X
Indian Space Research Organisation’s 101st mission from Sriharikota, an earth observation satellite onboard the agency’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, could not be accomplished on Sunday following a pressure issue in the third stage of the launch vehicle, the space agency said.
As reported by PTI, Although the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) made a textbook lift-off at the prefixed time of 5.59 am, the mission objectives, however, could not be achieved said in post on X .
Today 101st launch was attempted, PSLV-C61 performance was normal till 2nd stage. Due to an observation in 3rd stage, the mission could not be accomplished.
— ISRO (@isro) May 18, 2025
“Today we targeted the 101st launch from Sriharikota, the PSLV-C61 EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle and up to the second stage, the performance was normal. The third stage motor started perfectly but during the functioning of the third stage we are seeing an observation and the mission could not be accomplished,” Narayanan said.
The third stage is a solid motor system.
“…and the motor pressure–there was a fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case and the mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the entire performance, we shall come back at the earliest,” Narayanan said post the unsuccessful launch.
The outcome of Sunday’s launch would have come as a surprise to many, since PSLV has emerged to be the most reliable launch vehicle of ISRO.