Poem-4 goes back into the earth's atmosphere: Isro

Bengaluru, April 4 (PTI) Isro said on Friday that the fourth edition of the PSLV Orbital Platform Experiment Module (Poem-4), the reused upper phase of the Polishatellite launch vehicle used for the Space Docking Experiment Mission, re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere. “Finally, the Poem-4 module entered the atmosphere again and affected in the Indian Ocean at 02:33 UTC (08:03 IST), April 04, 2025,” Isro said in a post on ‘X’. The secure re-logging of Poem-4 is another achievement of ISRO’s commitment to containing the growth of space, which confirms the prominent role of space agency in the long-term sustainability of outer space environment and rubble-free spaces mission (DFSM). On December 30, 2024, ISRO’s PSLV-C60 Twin Spadex (Space Docking Experiment) Satellites launched and after the satellites were injected at 475 km height, the specially configured upper stage (PS4) of PSLV-C60 (called PSLV Orbital Experimental module was also in short poem-4). Noticed that Poem-4 was subsequently restored by the engine after an almost circular orbit at 350km height with 55.2 trend, Isro said, the PS4 was then passed by eliciting the remaining fuel to reduce the potential risk of accidental breakup. “During his missionary life, Poem-4 24 payloads offered (14 payloads of ISRO and 10 from different kidneys) and all payloads worked as expected, which produced valuable scientific data,” it states. While the poem -4 was also in orbit, it was constantly detected by Isro’s radar facilities and the United States Space Command (USSpacecom) facilities. The tracking data was, in turn, used in the forecasting process of the reinsertation, Isro said, adding that the orbit of Poem-4 to 174 kmx165 km expired and that the platform was forecast to enter the Earth’s atmosphere on April 04, 2025. The atmosphic reinformation of the period of Poem-4 was then carefully monitored. And regular updates in predictions were made, it added.