PSLV‑C62 third stage anomaly affected EOS‑N1 and 15 satellites. Get the latest ISRO mission update, rocket stage details, and exam-focused insights.
ISRO’s PSLV-C62 Mission Encounters Third-Stage Anomaly After Lift-Off
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully lifted off its PSLV-C62 rocket on January 12, 2026 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota with the goal of placing the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger payloads into a Sun-synchronous orbit, but the mission encountered a significant anomaly shortly after the third stage (PS3) of the launch.
The PSLV-C62, a PSLV-DL variant, is part of India’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle family — ISRO’s workhorse launch system that has delivered numerous successful missions over nearly three decades. However, this mission’s flight profile deviated from its intended trajectory near the end of the third stage burn, prompting engineers to initiate a detailed post-flight analysis of the anomaly.
Despite a nominal performance in the first two stages, the PS3 stage developed a disturbance in vehicle behaviour, and the rocket’s flight path deviated from its planned course. The anomaly prevented the rocket from successfully injecting the payloads into the required orbit.
While ISRO has not yet disclosed the precise technical cause of the disturbance, the third stage — powered by solid fuel — remains under scrutiny. Analysts have noted that this incident follows a similar issue in the PSLV-C61 mission (May 2025), which also experienced a PS3 stage malfunction.
📌 What Was Onboard PSLV-C62?
- Primary payload: EOS-N1 (Anvesha) — a strategic Earth observation satellite meant for hyperspectral imaging and national applications.
- Co-passengers: 15 domestic and international satellites, including experimental spacecraft from space startups and academic institutions.
The mission also carried the KID (Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator) — a re-entry demonstration vehicle from a Spanish startup, set to splash down in the South Pacific after release.
📘 Why This News Is Important
🧠 Significance for Competitive Exams
For aspirants preparing for UPSC (IAS/PCS), banking, railways, defence, and other government exams, this news is highly relevant under the Science & Technology – Space Technology section, especially the Indian space programme and rocket launch missions.
- ISRO’s prominence: ISRO plays a central role in India’s space leadership and strategic autonomy. Its launch missions are often referenced in GS-3 (Science & Technology) questions for UPSC and similar exams.
- Technical dynamics: Understanding stages of a rocket (PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4) and causes of anomalies helps in topics like rocket propulsion, orbital mechanics, and launch failures — common areas in technical current affairs sections.
- Policy implications: A launch failure triggers risk assessments, quality checks, and programme reviews, which link to broader themes of science administration, risk management, and space policies.
- International and commercial relevance: With satellites from international entities and space startups onboard, this incident highlights the commercialisation of India’s space sector, a topic seen in banking and defence exam updates.
- Impact on future missions: Repeated anomalies may influence future launch cadence, PSLV reliability assessments, and space industry projections — areas frequently asked in dynamic essay and analytical sections.
📜 Historical Context: PSLV and Third-Stage Challenges
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has been foundational to India’s space programme since its first flight in the early 1990s. Over more than 60 missions, it has earned a reputation for high reliability and mission success, launching satellites for Earth observation, interplanetary missions (like Chandrayaan-1 and Mars Orbiter Mission) and scientific platforms such as Aditya-L1.
However, recent history shows emerging challenges:
- In May 2025, the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) satellite also experienced an anomaly in the PS3 stage, caused by a suspected drop in chamber pressure, resulting in mission failure.
- The PS3 stage is a solid fuel motor — typically seen as reliable due to simplicity and fewer moving parts — but a malfunction in this stage can critically affect trajectory and ultimately orbital insertion.
- The back-to-back PS3-stage anomalies have prompted deeper investigations into quality assurance, manufacturing practices, and propulsion stability within the PSLV programme.
Understanding these historical trends is crucial for competitive exam aspirants, as they reflect technology evolution, iterative problem solving, and institutional learning in Indian space science.
📊 Key Takeaways from ISRO’s PSLV-C62 Mission Anomaly
| SL No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1. | The PSLV-C62 mission lifted off on January 12, 2026 but encountered an anomaly near the end of the third stage (PS3) which prevented successful orbit insertion. |
| 2. | ESOS-N1 (Anvesha) — the primary Earth observation satellite — along with 15 co-passenger satellites failed to reach orbit due to the anomaly. |
| 3. | The third stage of PSLV is a solid-fuel motor; disturbances in vehicle roll rates and trajectory deviation were observed. |
| 4. | This incident follows a similar third-stage issue in the PSLV-C61 mission (May 2025), raising concerns about consistency in launcher performance. |
| 5. | ISRO has initiated a detailed data analysis and investigation to identify the exact technical cause and prevent future failures. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the primary objective of the PSLV‑C62 mission?
The primary objective of the PSLV‑C62 mission was to launch the EOS‑N1 (Anvesha) Earth observation satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit, along with 15 co-passenger satellites, to support national imaging and commercial applications.
2. What anomaly occurred during the PSLV‑C62 launch?
The third stage (PS3) of the PSLV‑C62 rocket experienced a disturbance in trajectory, which prevented the successful orbital insertion of the payloads. The anomaly occurred after a nominal lift-off and successful performance of the first two stages.
3. What is the PS3 stage in a PSLV rocket?
The PS3 stage is a solid-fuel rocket stage in the PSLV launch vehicle. It is responsible for providing the thrust needed to reach near-orbital velocity before the final stage takes over for precise orbital insertion.
4. Why is the PSLV‑C62 anomaly important for competitive exams?
This event is crucial for UPSC, banking, railways, and defence exams under Science & Technology – Space Technology topics. Questions often cover ISRO missions, rocket stages, launch anomalies, and satellite applications.
5. How many co-passenger satellites were onboard PSLV‑C62?
PSLV‑C62 carried 15 co-passenger satellites, including experimental and commercial satellites from domestic and international organizations.
6. What measures does ISRO take after such anomalies?
ISRO conducts a detailed post-flight investigation, analyzing telemetry, stage performance, and manufacturing quality to identify the root cause and prevent similar issues in future missions.
7. Has the PSLV third stage faced anomalies before?
Yes, a similar PS3 stage anomaly occurred during the PSLV‑C61 mission in May 2025, indicating the need for enhanced quality control in solid-stage operations.
8. Which orbit was PSLV‑C62 targeting for its payloads?
The targeted orbit was a Sun-synchronous orbit, commonly used for Earth observation satellites due to consistent lighting conditions for imaging.
9. What are the co-passenger payloads in PSLV‑C62 used for?
The co-passenger satellites included research, experimental, and commercial payloads such as mini-satellites for universities and startups, contributing to technology demonstration and space industry growth.
10. How does this anomaly impact India’s space program?
While the anomaly is a setback, it provides technical learning and refinement opportunities for ISRO, ensuring higher reliability for future missions and reinforcing India’s presence in commercial and scientific space sectors.
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