ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission, the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, failed on 12 January 2026 after a third-stage (PS3) anomaly — the same stage that doomed PSLV-C61 in May 2025. The rocket lifted off at 10:17 hrs IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The first and second stages performed normally, but telemetry data revealed a drop in chamber pressure and deviation in roll-rates just prior to third-stage separation, resulting in complete mission failure and loss of all 16 satellites aboard. The primary payload was EOS-N1 (codenamed 'Anvesha'), a strategic Earth Observation Satellite built by DRDO for high-resolution surveillance, intended for use by India's defence and intelligence establishment. The 16 satellites also included payloads from Indian space start-ups and customer satellites from Brazil, the UK, Nepal, Spain, and Thailand (GISTDA's THEOS-2A). This marks the first time a PSLV mission failed while carrying international commercial customer satellites, raising concerns about ISRO's commercial launch business and reliability assurance. The only survival was a Spanish re-entry capsule (KID), which separated from the rocket and transmitted flight data for approximately three minutes during its non-nominal descent, recording a peak deceleration of 28g. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced a detailed Failure Analysis Committee investigation. The consecutive failure of PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 — both due to PS3 anomalies — is unprecedented in the vehicle's 30-year history, which previously had only two failures (PSLV-D1 in 1993 and PSLV-C39 in 2017). The failure has prompted questions about quality control in ISRO's sub-system procurement and its implications for upcoming missions, including Chandrayaan-4 and commercial launch contracts.
ISRO's PSLV-C62 Mission Fails Due to Third-Stage Anomaly: 16 Satellites Including DRDO's Strategic EOS-N1 Lost
ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission, the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, failed on 12 January 2026 after a third-stage (PS3) anomaly — the same stage that doomed PSLV-C61 in May 2025. The rocket lifted off at 10:17 hrs IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The first and second stages performed normally, but telemetry data revealed a drop in chamber pressure and deviation in roll-rates just prior to third-stage separation, resulting in complete mission failure and loss of all 16 satellites aboard. The primary payload was EOS-N1 (codenamed 'Anvesha'), a strategic Earth Observation Satellite built by DRDO for high-resolution surveillance, intended for use by India's defence and intelligence establishment. The 16 satellites also included payloads from Indian space start-ups and customer satellites from Brazil, the UK, Nepal, Spain, and Thailand (GISTDA's THEOS-2A). This marks the first time a PSLV mission failed while carrying international commercial customer satellites, raising concerns about ISRO's commercial launch business and reliability assurance. The only survival was a Spanish re-entry capsule (KID), which separated from the rocket and transmitted flight data for approximately three minutes during its non-nominal descent, recording a peak deceleration of 28g. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced a detailed Failure Analysis Committee investigation. The consecutive failure of PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 — both due to PS3 anomalies — is unprecedented in the vehicle's 30-year history, which previously had only two failures (PSLV-D1 in 1993 and PSLV-C39 in 2017). The failure has prompted questions about quality control in ISRO's sub-system procurement and its implications for upcoming missions, including Chandrayaan-4, NISAR, and commercial launch contracts.
Key facts
- ISRO's PSLV-C62 failed on January 12, 2026 due to a third-stage (PS3) anomaly, losing all 16 satellites.
- Primary payload EOS-N1 ('Anvesha') was a strategic DRDO Earth Observation Satellite for defence surveillance.
- This is the second consecutive PS3 failure after PSLV-C61 in May 2025 — unprecedented in PSLV history.
- International customer satellites from Brazil, UK, Nepal, Spain and Thailand were lost.
- Only a Spanish re-entry capsule (KID) survived briefly, recording 28g peak deceleration.
- ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced a Failure Analysis Committee investigation.
Mains angle
Q: Critically evaluate the consecutive PS3 failures of PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 and their implications for ISRO's commercial launch credibility and upcoming missions.
Answer (50 words):
PSLV-C62, the 64th flight, failed on 12 January 2026 due to a third-stage anomaly from Sriharikota, losing all 16 satellites including DRDO's EOS-N1 Anvesha. Back-to-back PS3 failures with PSLV-C61 in May 2025 are unprecedented in thirty years. Chairman V. Narayanan ordered a Failure Analysis Committee probe affecting Chandrayaan-4 and future commercial launch planning.
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What was the codename of the primary payload, the DRDO-built Earth Observation Satellite EOS-N1, on the failed PSLV-C62 mission?
According to the article, the primary payload was EOS-N1 (codenamed 'Anvesha'), a strategic Earth Observation Satellite built by DRDO for high-resolution surveillance.
Source: NewsGram / Business Standard / The Week / Indian Defence News
Frequently asked questions
When and where did ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission fail?
PSLV-C62 failed on January 12, 2026, shortly after launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. A third-stage (PS3) anomaly caused a drop in chamber pressure and deviation in roll-rates, leading to the loss of all 16 satellites.
What was the primary payload of PSLV-C62 and what was its significance?
The primary payload was EOS-N1, codenamed 'Anvesha', a strategic Earth Observation Satellite developed by DRDO for defence surveillance and reconnaissance. Its loss was a significant setback for India's national security space programme.
Why is the PSLV-C62 failure historically significant for ISRO?
It marked the second consecutive failure of the PS3 (third stage) of PSLV, following PSLV-C61 in May 2025 — an unprecedented back-to-back failure in PSLV's otherwise reliable history spanning over 50 missions.
Which international customer satellites were lost in the PSLV-C62 mission failure?
Satellites from Brazil, UK, Nepal, Spain, and Thailand were among the 16 lost. A Spanish re-entry capsule called KID briefly survived the failure, recording a peak deceleration of 28g before being destroyed.
What action did ISRO take following the PSLV-C62 failure?
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced the formation of a Failure Analysis Committee to investigate the PS3 anomaly and determine the root cause of the consecutive third-stage failures.
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