In a significant blow to India’s ambitious space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C62) mission encountered a critical anomaly during the final moments of its third stage, failing to deploy its complement of 16 satellites into their intended orbits. The setback, which occurred less than 30 minutes after liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Monday, January 12, 2026, marks the second consecutive failure for the nation’s highly regarded “workhorse” rocket. All payloads, including a crucial Earth observation satellite for strategic purposes, are now considered lost.
The PSLV-C62, carrying the primary EOS-N1 (Anvesha) Earth observation satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites, lifted off at 10:18 AM IST, kicking off India’s space calendar for 2026. Initial flight phases appeared nominal, with the rocket performing as expected through the first two stages. However, an abrupt “disturbance” and subsequent “deviation in the flight path” were observed near the end of the third stage (PS3), as confirmed by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan in a post-launch briefing. This critical malfunction prevented the satellite injection sequence from being completed, leading to the unfortunate declaration of mission unsuccess. A detailed analysis has been swiftly initiated by ISRO to ascertain the precise cause of the anomaly.
The primary payload, EOS-N1, also known as Anvesha, was a sophisticated hyperspectral imaging satellite developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Designed for strategic surveillance and monitoring, its loss represents a substantial blow to India’s defence capabilities in space. Among the other critical payloads were AayulSAT, an experimental satellite by Bengaluru-based startup OrbitAID Aerospace intended to demonstrate in-orbit satellite refuelling technology, and the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID), a small re-entry vehicle prototype developed by a Spanish startup. The remaining co-passenger satellites were a diverse array of small satellites and CubeSats from various domestic and international customers, destined for applications ranging from artificial intelligence processing in orbit to environmental monitoring and communication services.
This incident casts a long shadow, coming less than a year after the PSLV-C61 mission in May 2025 also failed due to a third-stage motor issue. The recurrence of a similar problem in the PS3 stage raises significant concerns within the scientific community and for ISRO’s otherwise stellar record of reliability with the PSLV. Historically, the PSLV has been ISRO’s most dependable launch vehicle, having completed 63 successful missions prior to these two recent setbacks, including iconic missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, and Aditya-L1. The back-to-back failures challenge this reputation and necessitate an intensive forensic review, not only of the onboard hardware and propulsion systems but also potentially of ground-segment command, navigation, and telemetry systems.
The implications extend beyond technical issues, impacting ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), which was responsible for this dedicated commercial launch, its ninth such mission. The loss of commercial payloads from international partners could affect future contracts and global confidence. While ISRO maintains its commitment to a rapid recovery and is exploring alternative launch options, the immediate focus remains on understanding the root cause of these recurring anomalies. The space agency’s Failure Analysis Committee will now pore over every byte of telemetry data to identify the exact mechanism behind the third-stage malfunction, hoping to implement robust corrective measures before the next high-stakes countdown. The global space community, and indeed the nation, watches closely as ISRO navigates this challenging period, determined to restore the PSLV to its former glory.
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