Isro Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the anomaly, stating, “First two stages performed as expected. In the third stage, we observed less chamber pressure. The mission could not be accomplished”.

India’s PSLV-C61 mission, intended to deploy the advanced EOS-09 Earth observation satellite, failed minutes after launch Sunday morning due to a suspected flex nozzle malfunction in its third-stage propulsion system, according to initial analysis.

Isro Chairman V Narayanan confirmed the anomaly, stating, “First two stages performed as expected. In the third stage, we observed less chamber pressure. The mission could not be accomplished”.

The third-stage PS3 motor uses a flexible bearing nozzle system to steer the vehicle during its 114-second burn.

Flex nozzles, made of layered elastomeric materials, allow precise thrust vector control without complex hydraulic actuators.