PSLV-C62 Launch Faces Anomaly During Third Stage Flight

India’s first space mission of 2026 began with a successful lift-off but soon ran into a technical challenge. The PSLV-C62 mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation, encountered a disturbance near the end of its third stage, prompting engineers to begin a detailed analysis of flight data.

Launch from Sriharikota and mission profile

The Indian Space Research Organisation launched the PSLV-C62 rocket from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carried the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-N1 along with 14 co-passenger satellites for domestic and international customers. The mission marked the 64th flight of the PSLV and the ninth dedicated commercial mission undertaken by NewSpace India Limited.

ISRO chief flags disturbance during PS3 stage

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the launch vehicle performed as expected through most of its flight. However, close to the end of the third stage (PS3), engineers observed increased disturbance in the vehicle. This was followed by a deviation in the flight path, indicating a possible anomaly. ISRO later confirmed that a detailed technical analysis had been initiated to assess the cause and impact of the issue.

Vehicle configuration and payload details

The PSLV-C62 is a four-stage launch vehicle, standing 44.4 metres tall with a lift-off mass of about 260 tonnes. The mission used the PSLV-DL configuration, which includes two solid strap-on motors. The primary payload, EOS-N1, is an Earth observation satellite jointly developed by partners from Thailand and the United Kingdom, intended for deployment into a Sun-synchronous orbit.

What to Note for UPSC Prelims?

• PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle with alternating solid and liquid stages.
• PSLV-C62 was the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
• Sun-synchronous orbit allows satellites to pass over the same area at the same local time.
• NewSpace India Limited is ISRO’s commercial arm for launch services.

Additional demonstrations and commercial significance

Apart from satellite deployment, the mission was also scheduled to demonstrate the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator, a small prototype re-entry vehicle developed by a Spanish start-up. Despite the anomaly, PSLV-C62 underlines ISRO’s continued focus on commercial launches and advanced in-orbit demonstrations, even as engineers work to determine the precise cause of the disturbance observed during the mission.