ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission, carrying 16 satellites including a foreign Earth Observation satellite, failed during the third stage. The rocket deviated from its flight path, resulting in the loss of all satellites. Chairman V Narayanan said a detailed analysis is underway
ISRO's PSLV-C62 carrying the EOS-N1 lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday. Pic/PTI
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV)-C62 rocket, carrying 16 satellites including a foreign earth observation satellite, “encountered an anomaly” on Monday, the space agency said, signalling the failure of the mission.
Disturbances were observed in the rocket during the third stage, while the strap-on motors were providing thrust to propel the vehicle to its intended altitude, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said, adding that a detailed analysis has been initiated to identify the cause. The rocket later deviated from its flight path, preventing the satellites from being placed in the intended orbit, news agency PTI reported. According to ISRO sources, all 16 satellites were lost in space.
This marks the second consecutive PSLV mission failure during the third stage. A similar mission in May 2025 (PSLV-C61/EOS-09) also failed due to a “motor pressure issue,” which caused a drop in the chamber pressure of the motor case.
The 44.4-metre tall, four-stage rocket lifted off as scheduled at 10.18 am from Sriharikota, after a 22.5-hour countdown. The mission aimed to deploy a primary earth observation satellite along with multiple co-passenger satellites into a 512 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit over a flight duration of about 17 minutes.
The automatic launch sequence began following approval from the mission director, with ISRO scientists providing real-time updates as the rocket ascended. The initial phases of the flight proceeded according to plan.
However, after the third stage ignited, an uneasy calm took over the Mission Control Centre. Addressing the situation, Narayanan said: “The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle with two solid stages and two liquid stages. The performance of the vehicle up to the end of the third stage was expected. Close to the end of the third stage, we observed more disturbance in the vehicle and subsequently, a deviation in the flight path.”
ISRO begins detailed investigation
Confirming the mission’s failure on X, ISRO stated: “The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of PS3 (third stage) of the vehicle. A detailed analysis has been initiated.”
The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated.
— ISRO (@isro) January 12, 2026
The space agency did not provide further details.
Later, in a brief press conference, Narayanan, who is also Secretary of the Department of Space, said: “As all of you are aware, today we attempted the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission… the mission could not proceed along the expected flight path. That is the information available right now.”
He added: “We are going through the data collected from all ground stations. Once the analysis is completed, we shall come back to you.”
(With PTI inputs)
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