Setback in Space: PSLV-C62 Mission Encounters Critical Anomaly During Third Stage
Setback in Space: PSLV-C62 Mission Encounters Critical Anomaly During Third Stage
Sriharikota, 12 Jan : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a difficult start to its 2026 launch schedule today as the highly anticipated PSLV-C62 mission failed to reach its intended orbit. Lifting off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:17 AM IST, the mission proceeded smoothly during its initial phase but encountered a technical snag during the critical third stage.
The launch vehicle, a PSLV-DL variant equipped with two solid strap-on motors, was tasked with deploying the EOS-N1 (Anwesha) Earth observation satellite along with 15 co-passenger satellites into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. While the first two stages—the solid propellant booster and the liquid-fueled second stage—performed flawlessly, the mission faced a deviation just as the third stage was nearing its conclusion.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan addressed the media shortly after the incident, confirming that the mission could not be completed as planned. "The performance of the vehicle was nominal and as predicted up to the third stage," Narayanan explained. "However, near the end of the third stage, we observed a disturbance which led to a deviation in the flight path. Consequently, the mission did not proceed as expected."
This mission was significant as it marked the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and was the 9th dedicated commercial mission for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The primary payload, EOS-N1, was designed to enhance remote sensing applications for agriculture, urban planning, and environmental monitoring. The mission also carried international payloads, including the 'KID' re-entry vehicle prototype from a Spanish startup.
This incident echoes a similar setback from May 2025, when the PSLV-C61 mission also suffered a technical anomaly at the third stage. ISRO has launched a full-scale investigation into the failure, with teams currently analyzing data from all ground stations to identify the root cause and ensure corrective actions for future launches.
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