Contemporary space missions revolve around a delicate balance of cost, reliability, and time. The failure of ISRO’s PSLV-C61 mission highlights the complex trade-offs between these three critical factors.

About ISRO PSLV-C61 Mission

• Mission Objective & Strategic Importance: EOS-09 was meant for high-resolution, all-weather radar imaging for both civilian (e.g., land use) and defence surveillance, crucial amid border tensions with Pakistan.
• Launch Failure & Technical Issues: A third-stage malfunction in PSLV-C61 prevented orbit insertion, highlighting the unpredictability of even proven launch systems.
• Political & Military Significance: MPs’ presence at the launch indicated dual-use relevance. The failure exposed surveillance gaps, with India depending on foreign operators during Operation Sindoor.
• Surveillance Plans & Industry Role: The Space-Based Surveillance-3 programme targets 52 satellites, with 31 built by private firms under ISRO—showcasing a public-private model in strategic tech.
• Cost vs Reliability vs Time: Rising costs don’t always ensure reliability. With growing space demands, especially for time-critical military needs, there’s little room for error or delays.
• Pressure on ISRO Resources: From human spaceflight to climate missions, ISRO’s workload is rising. Failures like PSLV-C61 and NVS-02 stress the need for greater funding and infrastructure.

Conclusion

In an era of heightened competition and urgency, India must ensure adequate support for ISRO. Sustained investment will be key to balancing its civilian, scientific, and military priorities in space.