Published: 14 January 2026Spaceflight Now / The QuintScience & Technology
PSLV-C62 Failure Post-Mortem: ISRO Forms Failure Analysis Committee Under K. Sivan; Report to PMO by June 2026
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has constituted a Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) to investigate the failure of the PSLV-C62 mission. The committee is chaired by Dr. K. Sivan, former ISRO Chairman, and includes a separate external committee headed by Dr. K. Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The final report is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) by June 2026.
PSLV-C62 suffered a mission failure attributed to an anomaly in the rocket's third stage — the solid-fuel PS3 stage — during flight. This is significant as it marks the second consecutive PSLV third-stage failure following PSLV-C61, raising serious concerns about quality control, manufacturing processes, and the reliability of ISRO's workhorse rocket.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has been India's most reliable rocket, having flown 64 launches before PSLV-C62 and launched over 430 satellites, including over 380 foreign satellites. The consecutive third-stage failures represent an unprecedented reliability challenge for the programme.
The dual-committee structure — an internal FAC chaired by Dr. K. Sivan and an external committee chaired by Dr. K. Vijay Raghavan — reflects ISRO's commitment to institutional accountability and transparent post-failure investigation. The external committee's mandate includes reviewing ISRO's processes, workforce management, and supply chain quality, reporting independently to the PMO.
The PSLV-C62 failure has implications for India's commercial space sector, for earth-observation and navigation launch planning; OneWeb launches cited by ISRO used the LVM3 vehicle. It also impacts India's credibility as an affordable and reliable launch service provider in the global commercial space market. Corrective action is expected to cover solid motor propellant quality testing, thermal management in upper stages, and tightened third-stage assembly protocols.
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Frequently asked questions
Who chairs the Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) formed by ISRO to investigate the PSLV-C62 failure?
The **Failure Analysis Committee (FAC)** for PSLV-C62 is chaired by **Dr. K. Sivan**, former Chairman of ISRO. A separate **external committee** is headed by **Dr. K. Vijay Raghavan**, former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The report must be submitted to the **PMO by June 2026**.
What caused the PSLV-C62 mission failure and why is it particularly concerning?
PSLV-C62 failed due to an anomaly in its **third stage** — the solid-fuel **PS3 stage** — during flight. This is particularly concerning because it is the **second consecutive PSLV third-stage failure**, following the PSLV-C61 failure. This raises serious questions about **quality control, manufacturing processes**, and the reliability of ISRO's workhorse rocket.
What is the PSLV's track record and why is it called ISRO's workhorse rocket?
The **Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)** has been ISRO's most reliable rocket, successfully launching over **60 satellites** across **57 missions** since its first successful flight in **1994**. It is called the 'workhorse' because it handles diverse payloads — earth observation, navigation, commercial satellites — at competitive cost, making India a trusted global launch provider.
What is the significance of having an external committee alongside the internal FAC for PSLV-C62 investigation?
The **dual-committee structure** reflects ISRO's commitment to **institutional accountability** and **transparency**. The internal FAC (K. Sivan) reviews technical aspects of the failure, while the external committee (K. Vijay Raghavan) independently reviews ISRO's processes, workforce management, and supply chain quality, reporting directly to the **PMO** — ensuring an unbiased systemic review.
What are the broader implications of the PSLV-C62 failure for India's space programme?
The PSLV-C62 failure impacts: (1) **India's commercial launch credibility** as a reliable, affordable provider; (2) **Delayed payloads** including earth observation and navigation satellites; (3) **Commercial contracts** — PSLV is used for OneWeb and other international launches; (4) **ISRO's quality control systems** need review, especially for solid-fuel upper stages. Corrective measures are expected in propellant testing, thermal management, and assembly protocols.
