NSA Doval Conducts In-Depth Review Of PSLV Failures At ISRO’s VSSC In Thiruvananthapuram

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval recently visited ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram to investigate the consecutive failures of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), long considered India’s most dependable launch vehicle. His visit underscored the seriousness with which the government is treating these setbacks.

The visit, undertaken on the direct instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed to determine whether the repeated mission failures could have any national security implications, including the possibility of sabotage.

Doval, who serves as a member of the Space Commission, engaged in detailed discussions with senior ISRO scientists and engineers to gather first-hand technical insights into the issues.

The PSLV missions, including the January 12 launch, failed during the third stage of flight, a critical phase of the launch sequence. The recurrence of the malfunction at the same stage prompted concerns among both scientific and security officials, leading to a high-level review of the programme.

Findings and Recommendations

After returning to New Delhi, Doval reportedly submitted a comprehensive report on the investigation.

The report ruled out any foul play, echoing statements by Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh, while highlighting certain technical and procedural shortcomings that may have contributed to the failures. The report also included recommended corrective measures to prevent future setbacks.

Although the PSLV has earned a global reputation as the ‘workhorse’ of India’s space programme, the government is taking the consecutive failures seriously.

ISRO plans to implement the recommended improvements before the PSLV returns to flight, ensuring its continued reliability and restoring confidence in one of India’s most trusted launch vehicles.

Doval’s review reflects a careful balance of technical evaluation and security oversight, aimed at preserving the credibility of India’s launch capabilities while reinforcing measures to prevent similar issues in the future.

Also Read: Growth-Driven Budget To Build India As Vishwa Guru; Says Mumbai BJP MLA Ameet Satam