India’s space program faced a major setback on January 12, 2026, as the PSLV-C62 mission failed minutes after liftoff.1 This marks the second consecutive failure for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), raising serious concerns about the reliability of its third stage.
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Also Read | ISRO PSLV-C62 Mission Fails: EOS-N1 Spy Satellite and 15 Payloads Lost After Third Stage Deviation
1. What Went Wrong? (The Third-Stage Anomaly)
The rocket lifted off from Sriharikota at 10:18 AM IST and performed normally through its first and second stages. However, the mission deviated during the operation of the PS3 (Third Stage).
The Symptom: Telemetry data showed a sudden drop in chamber pressure and a “disturbance in roll rates,” causing the rocket to spin uncontrollably and drift off its intended path.
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The Result: The vehicle failed to reach the required orbital velocity. All 16 satellites on board were unable to reach orbit and are believed to have re-entered the atmosphere, burning up over the South Pacific Ocean.
A Familiar Ghost: This failure is an almost exact replica of the PSLV-C61 failure in May 2025, which also suffered a third-stage pressure anomaly.
2. Major Payloads Lost
The mission was carrying a mix of strategic defense equipment and commercial satellites from Indian startups and international partners.
| Payload | Developer | Purpose |
| EOS-N1 (Anvesha) | DRDO | Hyperspectral imaging for strategic maritime surveillance. |
| AayulSAT | OrbitAID | India’s first attempt at testing on-orbit satellite refueling. |
| 7 Payloads | Dhruva Space | Commercial cubesats and satellite deployers. |
| MOI-1 | TakeMe2Space | Planned as the world’s first “AI data center” in space. |
| International | UK, Brazil, Nepal, etc. | Various academic and commercial research satellites. |
Also Read | ISRO PSLV-C62 Mission Fails: EOS-N1 Spy Satellite and 15 Payloads Lost After Third Stage Deviation
3. Impact on India’s Space Industry
The consecutive failure of the “Workhorse of ISRO” has sent shockwaves through the emerging private space sector.
Commercial Trust: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) faces a “trust deficit” with international customers who rely on PSLV for cost-effective launches.
Insurance Premiums: Analysts expect insurance costs for future PSLV launches to skyrocket, potentially making the vehicle less competitive.
Strategic Delay: The loss of the DRDO’s Anvesha satellite delays critical upgrades to India’s border and maritime monitoring capabilities.
Also Read | ISRO PSLV-C62 Mission Fails: EOS-N1 Spy Satellite and 15 Payloads Lost After Third Stage Deviation
4. What’s Next for ISRO?
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan has announced the formation of a Failure Analysis Committee (FAC).
The Investigation: The committee will focus on the solid-fuel motor of the third stage to determine if there is a systemic manufacturing defect.
Transparency Concerns: With the 2025 failure report still classified, there is mounting pressure from the scientific community and the PMO to release findings publicly before any further PSLV launches.
Also Read | ISRO PSLV-C62 Mission Fails: EOS-N1 Spy Satellite and 15 Payloads Lost After Third Stage Deviation
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