India's space agency ISRO faced a major setback on Sunday as the launch of a critical Earth observation satellite aboard the trusted PSLV-C61 rocket ended in failure just under seven minutes after lift-off. The mission was halted mid-flight, prompting an exhaustive review of the incident.

To identify the exact cause of the malfunction, ISRO has formed a National Failure Analysis Committee, comprising experts from top institutions like IITs and IISc. The panel is expected to deliver its findings by mid-next month. A massive data dump from the failed mission has already been handed over for review.

In addition to the external panel, ISRO has also established several internal review teams to inspect every element of the PSLV system. The PSLV—considered a reliable workhorse with a 94% success rate across 63 launches—has now seen only its fifth failure, a rarity in its long service record.

Sources confirm that only the PSLV program has been temporarily paused, as the third stage of this rocket uses a solid fuel motor, unlike ISRO’s other launch vehicles. Decisions about future launches will depend on the findings of the analysis committee.

Offering perspective on the decision not to suspend other programs, an insider commented, “If one child trips, you don’t stop the entire village from walking.”

Despite the PSLV setback, ISRO continues to move forward with its other missions. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has already been issued for the GSLV-F16 launch, tentatively scheduled between June 18 and July 17. This mission will carry the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), a high-value civilian Earth observation satellite co-developed with NASA. Valued at $1.5 billion, NISAR is one of the most advanced satellites ever built for Earth imaging.

Focus on PSLV Third Stage Malfunction

Preliminary analysis suggests the third stage of the PSLV-C61 rocket may have malfunctioned mid-flight. The vehicle was moving at over 20,000 km/h, approximately 28 times the speed of a commercial jet, when it deviated from its intended path roughly 6.3 minutes into flight, around 888 km away from the launch site in Sriharikota.

Contrary to some assumptions, the third stage is not believed to have exploded. Experts think that the fourth stage may have even attempted ignition as the rocket descended, indicating the structure remained partially functional. However, the drop in performance is believed to have started around 100 seconds into the third stage’s ignition. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan cited a drop in chamber pressure as a key indicator of failure.

Former ISRO chief and veteran rocket scientist Dr. G Madhavan Nair, who once served as project director for the PSLV program, suspects a possible rupture in the fiber casing of the 8-tonne third stage rocket motor. While this theory is under serious consideration, all other possibilities are being investigated.

The PSLV remains one of ISRO's most in-demand rockets for global satellite launches, and the agency’s unique launch geography continues to be an asset. For now, the space agency is focused on uncovering what went wrong and restoring confidence in its flagship launch vehicle.