Why in News?  

India’s main rocket PSLV developed problems a few minutes after take-off and failed to place earth observation satellite EOS-09 into the intended orbit.  

 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

• PSLV is India’s third-generation launch vehicle and the first Indian rocket with liquid stages.  
• It is an indigenously built expendable launch system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  
• The first successful launch was in October 1994, after which PSLV became a dependable and adaptable workhorse for India.  
• It has launched many Indian and foreign satellites.  
• Notably, it launched Chandrayaan-1 (2008) to the Moon and the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft (2013) to Mars.  

Characteristic Features  

• PSLV is an expendable launch vehicle that can place:  
  • Remote sensing satellites into Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)  
  • Small spacecraft into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)  
• It is known worldwide for its multi-satellite launch capability and is seen as a reliable, adaptable, and cost-effective launcher.  
• PSLV also launched India’s first space observatory, Astrosat.  

  Orbit Capabilities: PSLV can launch satellites into:  

• LEO (Low Earth Orbit)  
• Sub-GTO (Sub-Geostationary Transfer Orbit)  
• GTO (Geostationary Transfer Orbit)  

PSLV