SRIHARIKOTA: India’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) suffered a fresh setback on Monday after PSLV-C62 developed an anomaly near the end of its third stage (PS3), causing a deviation in the flight path and preventing the mission from reaching its intended orbit. The launch was ISRO’s first mission of 2026.
In an official statement, ISRO said: “PSLV-C62 performance was normal up to the end of the PS3 stage. A disturbance was observed thereafter and the mission could not be accomplished. A detailed analysis has been initiated.”
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan also told media that the vehicle performed as expected until late in the third stage, after which a deviation was noticed. He said scientists are analysing the full flight data to determine the exact cause.
What was PSLV-C62 supposed to do?
PSLV-C62 was a dedicated commercial mission conducted by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm. The rocket was tasked with placing EOS-N1, an Earth observation satellite, into orbit along with 15 co-passenger satellites from Indian and international customers.
According to ISRO’s mission description, PSLV-C62 flew in the PSLV-DL configuration, using two strap-on solid rocket boosters.
The mission also carried a technology demonstration payload, KID (Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator) from Spain, a small experimental re-entry vehicle planned to be deployed after the satellites and later splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
Due to the anomaly, the satellites are believed to be lost, though ISRO has not yet issued a final technical declaration on the status of all payloads.
What went wrong during today’s mission?
ISRO said the rocket’s performance was normal through the first and second stages and up to the end of the third stage. Problems began shortly after that.
“A disturbance was observed after PS3 stage and the mission could not be accomplished,” ISRO said, adding that a detailed post-flight analysis is underway.
Officials indicated that telemetry showed a deviation from the intended flight path, after which the planned orbital insertion could not be achieved. No precise technical cause has yet been officially identified.
Why this failure matters
The PSLV has long been regarded as ISRO’s most reliable and frequently used launch vehicle, forming the backbone of India’s Earth observation, navigation, and small-satellite commercial launch programmes.
The PSLV-C62 setback comes less than a year after the failure of PSLV-C61 in May 2025, making it an unusually difficult phase for a rocket that built its reputation on consistency.
Despite this, PSLV continues to be the launcher of choice for both strategic Indian missions and international commercial customers, underlining institutional and market confidence in the vehicle’s overall design and long-term reliability.
Previous ISRO and PSLV failures in recent years
PSLV-C61 (May 18, 2025):
The PSLV-C61 mission, carrying the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite, failed after an anomaly in the third stage. ISRO said at the time that performance was normal up to the second stage, but observations during PS3 meant the mission objectives could not be achieved.
PSLV-C39 (August 31, 2017):
One of PSLV’s most well-known failures occurred when the payload fairing did not separate, trapping the satellite inside and preventing orbital deployment.
GSLV-F10 / EOS-03 (August 12, 2021):
ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle failed after cryogenic upper-stage ignition did not occur, leading to loss of the EOS-03 satellite.
SSLV-D1 (August 7, 2022):
ISRO’s new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle failed to place satellites into the correct orbit on its maiden flight. After corrective measures, the agency later achieved success with SSLV-D2.
Continued trust in PSLV despite setbacks
Despite the 2025 failure, ISRO and NSIL retained PSLV as a core launcher for 2026. PSLV-C62 was formally listed in India’s launch calendar and contracted as a commercial mission, indicating continued confidence from both Indian authorities and private customers.
PSLV remains central to India’s satellite deployment strategy, particularly for Earth observation, scientific missions, and rideshare launches.
What happens next
ISRO has said its immediate priority is a detailed mission analysis. This will involve studying flight telemetry, hardware performance, and sequence data to identify the root cause of the anomaly.
Based on past practice, ISRO is expected to constitute internal review panels, implement design or process corrections if needed, and carry out additional validation before clearing PSLV for its next flight.
“A detailed analysis has been initiated. We will come back with findings after studying the data,” ISRO officials said.
About the Author
