An Indian Space Mission faced failure on Sunday, May 18, after a rocket error forced scientists to stop the flight. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had launched the EOS-09 satellite early in the morning, but the rocket carrying it failed mid-journey.
The launch took place at 5:59 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The rocket, named PSLV-C61, was supposed to place the EOS-09 satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit 524 kilometers above the Earth.
At first, the launch looked like a success. The rocket cleared the first and second stages without any trouble. But during the third stage, a motor failed after running for just 203 seconds. This error led ISRO to cancel the mission halfway through.
The satellite on board, EOS-09, weighed 1,696 kilograms. It was designed to collect data on weather, agriculture, and disaster warnings. Losing it has delayed important Earth observation tasks.
ISRO had streamed the entire Indian Space Mission live. Many viewers watched the early morning liftoff with hope. But soon after the motor error, ISRO shared an update. The space agency said, “This was our 101st mission. PSLV-C61 worked well up to the second stage. But due to a special observation in the third stage, the mission could not continue.”
This failure has been widely reported by Indian media, including NDTV and ANI. ISRO is now trying to find out exactly what went wrong. A group of engineers has formed a special committee to investigate the problem.
Though this Indian Space Mission failed, it is not the first. ISRO has used the PSLV rocket for 63 launches since 2017. Out of these, three missions have ended in full failure. Most, however, have been successful.
ISRO is known for low-cost, smart missions. Projects like the Chandrayaan-3 moon landing and the Mars Orbiter Mission brought global praise. But Sunday’s error shows that space missions remain risky.
Experts say every failed Indian Space Mission teaches a lesson. The errors help engineers build better rockets and plan more safely. In space science, even small issues can cause major problems. But they also lead to new ideas and better systems.
To avoid any danger from falling parts, ISRO confirmed it destroyed the rocket in space. Its debris is expected to fall back to Earth, but the agency has taken steps to make sure it causes no harm.
Despite the failure, ISRO’s work continues. The space agency has several missions lined up in the coming months. Scientists remain hopeful that lessons from this error will lead to better results next time.
The EOS-09 satellite was meant to support many sectors, including farming, climate research, and disaster response. Its loss is a setback, but ISRO says the mission will be repeated once the issues are fixed.
This Indian Space Mission may not have ended as planned, but ISRO’s journey is far from over. Each attempt brings more knowledge and more courage. The path to space is hard, but India’s goal to lead in space science stays strong.
With more care, review, and learning, ISRO will move forward. The next Indian Space Mission will likely come soon, stronger and safer than before.