PSLV-C62 Mission Hits Setback After Perfect Liftoff

India’s trusted workhorse soars high — but space reminds us why every launch matters.

ISRO began 2026 with high expectations as PSLV-C62 lifted off successfully from Sriharikota on January 12, 2026. The launch marked India’s first space mission of the year, but celebrations were cut short after a critical third-stage anomaly disrupted the mission.

What Went Right — and What Didn’t

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, weighing nearly 260 tonnes, took off smoothly from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre during its scheduled 10:17–10:18 AM IST window. However, shortly after ignition of the third stage, the rocket deviated from its intended flight path, preventing confirmed satellite deployment.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the disturbance and stated that telemetry data is under detailed analysis. As of now, orbit insertion has not been confirmed.

Mission Details

PSLV-C62 was the 64th flight of ISRO’s most dependable launcher. It carried EOS-N1 (Anvesha), a hyperspectral Earth observation satellite developed by DRDO, designed for strategic reconnaissance and high-resolution maritime surveillance.

The mission also included 14–18 co-passenger satellites, featuring:

Spain’s Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID)
Satellites for Earth observation
IoT and AI processing payloads
Technology demonstration satellites from Indian and international customers

All payloads were aimed at a polar sun-synchronous orbit (~100 km altitude).

A Pattern Raises Questions

This anomaly echoes the aborted PSLV-C61 mission in 2025, which also faced third-stage issues. The repetition has drawn attention to a system long celebrated for achievements like:

Chandrayaan-1
Mars Orbiter Mission
Aditya-L1
The record 104-satellite PSLV-C37 launch

What Comes Next

ISRO has initiated a root-cause investigation to determine the failure mechanism and payload status. Despite the setback, the agency reaffirmed its 2026 roadmap, focusing on: