PSLV-C1 was the overall fourth mission of the PSLV program by Indian Space Research Organisation. The vehicle carried IRS-1D satellite which was deployed in the Sun-synchronous Low Earth orbit. This was India's first launch vehicle built without Russian assistance and PSLV's first operational flight placed IRS-1D into a polar orbit. However, it could not place the satellite in the desired circular orbit but in an elliptical orbit due to a leak of helium gas from one of the components. The mission was termed partial failure since the satellite could not be placed at the desired altitude.