Launches / PSLV-XL

Past launch Failed

EOS-09 (RISAT-1B)

PSLV-XL, flown by Indian Space Research Organization

PSLV-XL lifting off with the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) mission
Image via The Space Devs.

This was Indian Space Research Organization's 2nd launch of 2025, and its 95th in all.

Counting every operator, it was the 108th orbital launch attempt anywhere in 2025, and the first from Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad.

Launched
Sunday, May 18, 2025, 12:29 a.m. UTC
Window
Sunday, May 18, 2025, 12:00 to 4:00 a.m. UTC
Launch site
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
Rocket
PSLV XL
Operator
Indian Space Research Organization
Failure
3rd stage failure during burn.

Watch the webcast →

The mission

RISAT-1B is the third in the series of radar imaging RISAT-1 satellites of ISRO using an active C-band SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar), providing all-weather as well as the day-and-night SAR observation capability in applications such as agriculture, forestry, soil moisture, geology, sea ice, coastal monitoring, object identification, and flood monitoring, in addition to military surveillance. The RISAT-1 series is developed, manufactured and integrated by ISRO. The 3-axis stabilized spacecraft bus consists of a hexagonal prism shape build around a central cylinder. Most of the spacecraft subsystems and the payload are integrated in the prism structure and the central cylinder. The solar panels and some subsystems are mounted on the cube-shaped section of the spacecraft.

Type
Government/top secret
Destination
Sun-synchronous orbit

The rocket

PSLV-XL is the upgraded version of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in its standard configuration boosted by more powerful, stretched strap-on boosters with 12 tonne propellant load. Weighing 320t at lift-off, the vehicle uses larger strap-on motors (PSOM-XL or S12) to achieve higher payload capability. On 29 December 2005, ISRO successfully tested the improved version of strap-on booster for the PSLV. The first use of PSLV-XL was the launch of Chandrayaan-1 by PSLV C11. The payload capability for this variant is 1,800 kg to SSO.

The operator

Indian Space Research Organization

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of the Government of India headquartered in the city of Bangalore. Its vision is to "harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration."

Sector
Government
Based in
India
Founded
1969
Run by
V. Narayanan, Chairman

99 launches so far, 84 of them successful.

isro.gov.in → Wikipedia →

The launch site

It went up from Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India.

See the pad on a map →

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