Panel to probe repeated failures of PSLV, says ISRO

UPSC Study Note — Panel to Probe Repeated Failures of PSLV (ISRO)

1. At a Glance

• PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is ISRO's workhorse rocket, with ~94% success rate over 63 flights — two consecutive third-stage failures (2025–26) have punctured that record. [S1][S2]
• The failures triggered formation of a high-level national expert committee to investigate not just technical but organisational/systemic causes — a significant institutional moment for India's space programme. [S3]
• Relevant to GS-III (Science & Technology / Space) and GS-II (Governance / Accountability) for both Prelims and Mains.
• India's ambitions in commercial space launches, Gaganyaan, and strategic Earth observation directly depend on PSLV reliability. [S1]

2. Why in the News

• PSLV-C61 failure (18 May 2025): Third stage failed to fire; destroyed EOS-09 satellite (intended for government's strategic/defence needs). [S2][S3]
• PSLV-C62 failure (12 January 2026): Third stage again failed to ignite; 16 satellites (including defence-linked Earth observation satellite) lost, crashing into the sea. [S1][S3]
• Two failures within eight months — unprecedented for PSLV — prompted ISRO to constitute a national-level expert committee to probe systemic/organisational issues, reported by The Hindu on 25 February 2026. [S3]
• National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, also a member of India's Space Commission, visited Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) on 3 February 2026 in connection with PSLV-C62 failure — underscoring strategic stakes. [S3]

3. Background & Evolution

• Increased private sector outsourcing in rocket manufacturing (post-IN-SPACe reforms, 2020 onwards) introduced new quality-control variables. [S2]

4. Core Static Facts

About PSLV: - Full form: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle - Type: Four-stage rocket alternating solid (S) and liquid (L) propulsion — S-L-S-L - Third stage: Solid-fuel stage (HPS3 — Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene / HTPB-based) - Nodal agency: ISRO (under Department of Space, directly under Prime Minister) - Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh - VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre): Thiruvananthapuram — designs and develops PSLV - Total flights: ~63 as of 2026; success rate ~94% [S1] - Payload capacity: ~1,750 kg to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO); ~3,200 kg to LEO

About the Expert Committee: - Constituted by ISRO to probe systemic/organisational issues (beyond routine failure analysis) - Members include: K. Vijay Raghavan (former Principal Scientific Adviser to GoI); S. Somanath (former ISRO Chairman) [S3] - All members are external to ISRO [S3] - Report to be submitted to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan before April 2026 [S3] - Scope: vendor selection, quality auditing, outsourcing supervision, assembly coordination, testing/certification of third stage [S2]

Key Satellites Lost: - EOS-09 (PSLV-C61, May 2025): Strategic Earth observation satellite [S1][S3] - PSLV-C62 (Jan 2026): 16 satellites including defence-linked EO payload [S1][S3]

Space Governance Framework: - Department of Space → ISRO (technical arm) - Space Commission → apex policy body; NSA Ajit Doval is a member [S3] - IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre): regulates and promotes private sector participation in space

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological

• Both failures traced to third stage (solid-fuel) — chamber pressure drop (C61) and roll-rate deviation (C62) — suggesting possible propellant quality, nozzle vectoring, or ignition system issues. [S1]
• PSLV's alternating solid-liquid design makes third-stage solid burn particularly critical; once ignited, cannot be throttled or shut off.
• Increased reliance on private vendors post-IN-SPACe reforms may have introduced inconsistencies in component manufacturing and quality control. [S2]

Strategic / Geopolitical

• EOS-09 was earmarked for strategic (defence/intelligence) use — its loss directly impacts national security capabilities. [S3]
• NSA Doval's personal visit to VSSC signals highest-level strategic concern. [S3]
• Commercial credibility of ISRO's launch services (competing with SpaceX, Arianespace) is dented; foreign satellite operators may reconsider PSLV bookings.
• Affects India's plans for Gaganyaan crewed mission timeline and OneWeb/commercial satellite contracts.

Governance / Ethical

• Constituting an external expert committee (vs. internal failure analysis alone) signals recognition that institutional culture and organisational failures may be at play — not just technical glitches. [S3]
• Questions of transparency: ISRO's post-failure communication has been watched critically — delayed and limited public disclosures. [S1]
• Quality-control lapses in outsourced manufacturing raise accountability questions about vendor auditing frameworks. [S2]

Economic

• ISRO's commercial arm (NewSpace India Limited / NSIL) earns foreign exchange from satellite launch contracts — consecutive failures threaten this revenue stream.
• Loss of satellites represents hundreds of crores in development costs plus mission opportunity costs.
• Signals risk for India's ambition to capture 9% of global space economy by 2033 (target: $44 billion industry).

Administrative

• Outsourcing to private firms (Larsen & Toubro, MTAR Technologies, Godrej Aerospace etc.) has grown significantly post-2020; supervision frameworks lagged. [S2]
• Integration delays, procedural lapses in assembly, and testing certification gaps are under committee scrutiny. [S2]
• Raises the federalism-of-expertise question: can ISRO's centralised culture absorb private-sector variability?

6. Recent Developments (Last 12–18 Months)

• 18 May 2025: PSLV-C61 fails; EOS-09 satellite lost; third-stage chamber pressure drop identified as cause; ISRO forms initial probe panel. [S1][S2]
• 12 January 2026: PSLV-C62 fails; 16 satellites lost; roll-rate deviation in third stage; marks second consecutive PSLV failure in eight months. [S1][S3]
• 3 February 2026: NSA Ajit Doval visits VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram; first such high-profile security establishment visit post-failure. [S3]
• 25 February 2026: The Hindu reports constitution of national-level external expert committee (K. Vijay Raghavan + S. Somanath + other external experts) to probe systemic/organisational issues; report due before April 2026. [S3]
• ISRO issues statement confirming: "A national-level expert committee has been constituted and is reviewing the reason for the anomaly in the PSLV vehicle." [S3]

7. Prelims Hooks

1. PSLV is a four-stage rocket with alternating solid-liquid-solid-liquid propulsion stages. [S1]
2. PSLV-C61 failed on 18 May 2025; the satellite lost was EOS-09 (Earth Observation Satellite-09). [S1][S3]
3. PSLV-C62 failed on 12 January 2026; it was carrying 16 satellites for delivery to orbit. [S1][S3]
4. Both PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 failures occurred in the third stage (solid-fuel stage). [S1]
5. PSLV has a historical success rate of approximately 94% over 63 flights. [S1]
6. PSLV is designed and developed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram. [S3]
7. The external expert committee members include K. Vijay Raghavan (former Principal Scientific Adviser) and S. Somanath (former ISRO Chairman). [S3]
8. The committee is required to submit its report to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan before April 2026. [S3]
9. NSA Ajit Doval visited VSSC on 3 February 2026 — he is also a member of India's Space Commission. [S3]
10. IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) was established in 2020 to enable private sector space participation.
11. ISRO functions under the Department of Space, which is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister of India.
12. The PSLV-C37 mission (2017) holds the world record for launching 104 satellites in a single flight.
13. NSIL (NewSpace India Limited) is ISRO's commercial arm responsible for marketing launch services.
14. The third stage of PSLV uses HTPB (Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene)-based solid propellant.

8. Mains Relevance

Plausible Mains Questions: 1. "Two consecutive failures of the PSLV have raised questions about India's space governance and quality assurance frameworks. Critically examine the organisational and technological factors that may have contributed to these failures and suggest reforms." (GS-III) 2. "The increasing participation of private sector entities in India's space programme brings both opportunities and accountability challenges. Discuss in the context of recent PSLV mission failures." (GS-III) 3. "The role of independent expert committees in ensuring accountability within scientific institutions — assess with reference to ISRO's response to the PSLV failures of 2025–26." (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. PSLV vs. GSLV confusion: PSLV uses solid-liquid alternating stages (workhorse for remote sensing/SSO); GSLV uses cryogenic upper stage (heavier GTO payloads). Do not conflate.
2. Third stage propellant: The failing third stage uses solid propellant (not liquid/cryogenic) — candidates often assume all upper stages are cryogenic.
3. Department of Space ≠ Ministry of Space: There is no Ministry of Space in India; it is the Department of Space under direct PM charge.
4. S. Somanath's role: He is a former ISRO Chairman (succeeded by V. Narayanan) — do not call him current chairman.
5. IN-SPACe ≠ ISRO: IN-SPACe is the regulatory/promotional body for private players; ISRO is the technical/research arm — separate entities under Department of Space.
6. NSA on Space Commission: Candidates often miss that the NSA is a member of India's Space Commission — this fact is frequently tested obliquely.

11. Sources

• [S1] PSLV suffers stage-3 failure in ISRO's first 2026 launch — https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/pslv-c62-stage-3-failure-isro-first-2026-launch-explained-126011200477_1.html — (Tier 4)
• [S2] Repeated Failures of PSLV: Causes, Concerns and Impact — https://www.studyiq.com/articles/repeated-failures-of-pslv/ — (Tier 4 / reference)
• [S3] Panel to probe repeated failures of PSLV, says ISRO — The Hindu, 25 February 2026 (article content provided as primary source) — https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2026-02-25/ — (Tier 4)
• [S4] ISRO forms probe panel after PSLV-C61 glitch — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/isro-forms-probe-panel-after-pslv-c61-glitch-leaves-eos-09-off-target — (Tier 1 / All India Radio / Prasar Bharati)
• [S5] PSLV-C62 anomaly — ISRO investigates roll disturbance — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/pslv-c62-anomaly-isro-investigates-roll-disturbance-during-third-stage-of-eos-n1-mission-says-chairman-dr-v-narayanan/ — (Tier 1 / All India Radio / Prasar Bharati)