ISLAMABAD: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suffered asignificant setback on January 12, 2026, when its Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle (PSLV-C62) encountered a critical anomaly during the third stage,resulting in the loss of attitude control and failure to place 16satellites into their intended orbit. The mission, marking India’s firstspace launch of the year, lifted off flawlessly from the Satish DhawanSpace Centre in Sriharikota at 10:18 am IST but quickly turned intodisappointment as telemetry data revealed disturbances in roll rates and asubsequent deviation in the flight path. ISRO Chairman V Narayananconfirmed that while performance remained nominal until the end of thethird stage, the anomaly prevented orbital insertion, leaving the primarystrategic payload and co-passengers unplaced.
The incident has raised serious questions about the reliability of thePSLV’s third stage, a solid motor critical for providing the necessarythrust during ascent. Preliminary observations indicate a possible rollrate disturbance, potentially linked to issues such as pressure drops ornozzle anomalies, similar to those suspected in the previous failure. Thisevent unfolded approximately nine to ten minutes after liftoff, during thecoasting phase following the main burn, when the rocket requires precisecontrol to maintain trajectory. The loss of control led to insufficientvelocity for orbit, causing the satellites to be declared lost, adevastating outcome for a mission laden with high-value payloads.
At the heart of the mission was the EOS-N1, also known as Anvesha, anadvanced Earth observation satellite developed for the Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation (DRDO). Weighing around 400 kg, this hyperspectralimaging platform was designed to deliver high-resolution data for strategicsurveillance, capable of detecting camouflaged military assets, monitoringtroop movements, and supporting civilian applications like agriculture andenvironmental mapping. Positioned in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit atapproximately 505 km altitude, it represented a key enhancement to India’sdefence capabilities. Its loss underscores the strategic implications ofthe failure, particularly amid regional security dynamics.
Accompanying the primary payload were 15 co-passenger satellites, includingcontributions from Indian startups, universities, and internationalpartners from countries such as Nepal, Spain, Brazil, the United Kingdom,and France. These ranged from CubeSats demonstrating innovativetechnologies like in-orbit refuelling and AI processing to a EuropeanKestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) capsule intended for controlledatmospheric re-entry testing, with a planned splashdown in the SouthPacific Ocean. The commercial nature of the flight, managed by NewSpaceIndia Limited (NSIL), highlighted India’s growing role in the global smallsatellite launch market, but the anomaly has now jeopardized confidence insuch rideshare opportunities.
This marks the second consecutive failure for the PSLV involving the thirdstage, following the PSLV-C61 mission in May 2025, which also failed todeploy its Earth observation satellite due to a chamber pressure drop. ThePSLV, ISRO’s most trusted workhorse with a 44.4-metre height and 260-tonnelaunch mass, has historically boasted a high success rate, completingnumerous landmark missions including Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter.With only four failures in 64 attempts prior to this event, theback-to-back issues have dented its reputation and prompted scrutiny overquality control, material integrity, and potential design fatigue in thesolid motor.
ISRO has initiated a detailed analysis of flight data to determine the rootcause, with experts suggesting possibilities like gas leaks from the nozzlegenerating twisting forces or insulation failures affecting stability.Unlike previous practices, reports from failure analysis committees haveremained internal, fueling concerns about transparency, especially ascommercial clients and international partners are involved. The agency hasgrounded further PSLV flights pending resolution, potentially delayingupcoming missions in 2026, including preparations for the Gaganyaan humanspaceflight programme.
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The setback comes at a pivotal time for India’s space sector, which isexpanding through private participation and aiming to launch over 100satellites annually. While the PSLV’s modular design allows for relativelyswift corrective measures, repeated anomalies could impact investorconfidence and international collaborations. ISRO’s resilience in pastrecoveries remains a source of hope, but this double failure demandsrigorous reforms to safeguard the programme’s future ambitions.
Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/pslv-c62-mission-launch-live-updates-isro-anvesha-satellite-drdo-eos-n1-nasa-space-2850356-2026-01-12
Tags: ISRO, PSLV-C62, DRDO, EOS-N1, Sriharikota
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