ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission deviated after a disturbance in the third stage, and analysis is underway as satellite deployment remains unconfirmed.
According to officials, the rocket showed normal performance up to that point. Soon after, a disturbance affected the vehicle’s stability. (Photo: X/isro)
India’s space agency ISRO faced a major setback on Monday when its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C62, encountered a disturbance during the third stage of flight. The rocket lifted off successfully from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, marking India’s first planned space mission of 2026. However, the mission did not proceed as expected.
PSLV-C62 carried the EOS-N1 (Anvesha) Earth observation satellite along with 14 co-passenger satellites, including domestic and international payloads. After a smooth lift-off and initial flight phases, engineers detected an anomaly that caused the rocket to deviate from its planned flight path, raising concerns about the mission’s outcome.
“Today, we attempted the PSLV-C62 launch mission. We are analysing the data and shall come back to you,” ISRO said in a brief statement.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed that the issue occurred during the third stage of the rocket, a critical phase responsible for maintaining trajectory before the final orbital insertion.
According to officials, the rocket showed normal performance up to that point. Soon after, a disturbance affected the vehicle’s stability, forcing mission controllers to closely monitor telemetry and flight data. Engineers are now examining whether the deviation prevented the fourth stage from placing the satellites into their intended polar sun-synchronous orbit.
Due to this anomaly, ISRO has not yet confirmed the successful deployment of EOS-N1 or the other satellites.
The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated.
— ISRO (@isro) January 12, 2026
At this stage, ISRO has not officially declared the PSLV-C62 mission a failure. The space agency is carefully analysing onboard data to determine whether any of the payloads reached orbit or were lost due to the deviation.
Such post-launch assessments take time, as teams review propulsion performance, guidance data, and satellite signals. Until ISRO releases its detailed findings, the mission remains unconfirmed rather than failed.
The PSLV-C62 mission carried added significance as it was intended to open India’s space calendar for 2026 and mark the 64th flight of the PSLV series. The launch also followed a previous PSLV mission in 2025 that was aborted after a technical observation, making this mission crucial for restoring momentum.
Apart from EOS-N1, the rocket was scheduled to deploy 14 co-passenger satellites arranged through NewSpace India Ltd, ISRO’s commercial arm. The mission also included an in-orbit demonstration of a small re-entry capsule developed by a Spanish startup.
ISRO has not disclosed the exact cost of the PSLV-C62 mission. However, past PSLV launches have typically cost between ₹250 crore and ₹300 crore, depending on mission complexity, payload count, and commercial components.
These costs include rocket manufacturing, launch operations, mission control, and satellite integration. PSLV remains one of the most cost-effective launch vehicles globally, despite the current setback.
ISRO said it will share a detailed update once engineers complete the analysis of telemetry and flight data. The findings will determine the mission’s final status and help identify corrective measures for future launches.
For now, India’s space community awaits clarity as ISRO works to understand what went wrong and how it plans to move forward.
