ISRO PSLV-C62 Mission Faces Anomaly During Stage 3 Launch
PSLV-C62 rocket deviated from flight path, said ISRO chief V Narayanan
Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suffered a setback on Monday as its PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission failed to reach the designated orbit, disappointing scientists and engineers involved in the launch.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifted off flawlessly at 10:18:30 a.m. from the First Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The launch was met with applause in the Mission Control Room and from spectators at the public viewing gallery as the rocket soared smoothly into the sky.
However, the mission encountered a problem during the latter phase of flight. “The rocket performed normally until the end of the third stage, after which a deviation from the intended flight path was observed,” ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan said. He added that a detailed analysis of the flight data is under way to identify the cause of the anomaly.
This marks the fourth failure in PSLV’s long operational history since its inaugural flight in 1993. The maiden PSLV mission in 1993 also ended unsuccessfully, as did PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H in August 2017, reportedly due to the failure of the heat shield to separate. More recently, PSLV-C61/EOS-09, launched on May 18, 2025, failed following a sudden drop in chamber pressure during the third-stage burn.
Despite the setback, PSLV remains one of the most reliable launch vehicles globally, with only four failures across more than three decades of operations.
Had the mission succeeded, PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 would have marked an important milestone for ISRO. The launch vehicle was carrying the primary payload EOS-N1, along with 15 co-passenger satellites, including several developed by Indian start-ups and international partners.
According to ISRO sources, the primary satellite EOS-N1, codenamed Anvesha, is an advanced Earth-observation satellite equipped with hyperspectral imaging capabilities. Designed for strategic applications, it was intended to enhance India’s capabilities in national security, surveillance, and environmental monitoring.
Live Updates
- 12 Jan 2026 11:00 AM IST
The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated.
- 12 Jan 2026 10:46 AM IST
After the separation of all the satellites, scientists would restart the fourth stage (PS4) of the rocket to de-boost and enter a re-entry trajectory for the separation of the last satellite, the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID) capsule.
- 12 Jan 2026 10:29 AM IST
The high-energy solid third stage has successfully finished its firing and detached from the vehicle. This critical phase, closely monitored by mission engineers, has been executed flawlessly
- 12 Jan 2026 10:27 AM IST
Telemetry data shows that the two solid strap-on boosters have completed their burn and successfully detached from the launch vehicle. The central core stage has now taken over propulsion, accelerating the rocket through the upper layers of the atmosphere at supersonic velocity.
