EOS-03 mission couldn’t be accomplished due to performance anomaly: ISRO

What is the News?

Indian Space Research Organisation’s(ISRO) second mission “EOS-03” faced a setback.  It could not be accomplished fully due to a performance anomaly in the cryogenic stage of the rocket.

About EOS-03:

EOS-03 is a state-of-the-art agile Earth observation satellite. It was launched by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10(GSLV-F10).

Objectives of the Mission:

• To provide real-time imaging of large area regions at frequent intervals
• To provide quick monitoring of natural disasters
• Furthermore, to obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, water bodies as well as for disaster warning, cyclone monitoring, cloudburst, and thunderstorm monitoring.

What is the cryogenic stage?

• A cryogenic stage is the last stage of space launch vehicles, which makes use of cryogenics. The word refers to the technology of sub-zero temperature, where production and behavior of materials are studied at below -150 degrees Centigrade.
• A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant, compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages.
• However, the cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system compared to solid or earth-storable liquid propellant stages. It is because of the use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural problems.

The anomaly in the cryogenic stage

• According to ISRO, the engines failed to ignite in the cryogenic stage, which was called a “technical anomaly”. Hence, due to this, the mission couldn’t be accomplished as intended.