What do two PSLV mission failures in a row mean for ISRO?, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• ISRO's PSLV-C61 mission failed on May 18, 2025, due to an issue in the third stage (PS3).
• The PSLV-C62 mission also failed on January 12 due to a "roll rate disturbance" in the PS3 stage.
• PSLV is considered ISRO’s "workhorse" for reliable launches.
• A Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) investigated the C61 incident, but the report remains unreleased.

Detailed Insights:

• The PSLV-C61 failure involved a sudden pressure drop in the PS3 motor, potentially indicating a structural failure.
• The FAC report's secrecy may be due to concerns about payload sensitivity or commercial protection for NewSpace India, Ltd (NSIL).
• The PSLV-C62 failure was attributed to a "roll rate disturbance," possibly caused by a gas leak from the PS3 stage.
• The commonality of the PS3 stage being affected in both missions suggests a potential link between the failures.
• Lack of transparency and external scrutiny may have contributed to the repeated failures, as independent experts were not involved in reviewing the fixes implemented after the first failure.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Telemetry data: Data transmitted from a spacecraft or rocket during flight.
• Roll rate disturbance: Uncontrolled spinning of a rocket during flight.
• NewSpace India, Ltd (NSIL): The commercial arm of ISRO, responsible for marketing and selling ISRO technologies and services.