The PSLV-C39 mission carrying the replacement navigation satellite IRNSS-1H failed on Thursday evening. After continuously 39 successful launches it was PSLV’s first failure, it is also another such instance after 1993. “The mission was unsuccessful” said A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, a few minutes after the 7 p.m. launch. The incident happened because the spacecraft got stuck in the heat shield in the last and fourth stage and didn’t release into the space as planned. “All stages of the mission performed well. But there was a mishap”, he said.
