New Delhi: The PSLV-C62 mission, launched earlier today, encountered a technical issue during its third stage, isro Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan confirmed. The investigation into the problem has already begun.
The Polar satellite launch Vehicle (PSLV) was tasked with placing the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite, along with 15 smaller satellites, into a sun-synchronous orbit. The launch took place at 10:17 am from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Speaking to the media after the launch, the ISRO chief explained that the rocket performed well up to the third stage. However, towards the end of this stage, a deviation occurred in the rocket’s trajectory, halting the progress of the mission.
He added that the PSLV is a four-stage rocket, alternating between solid and liquid fuel stages. The rocket’s performance until the third stage was as expected, but a disturbance was detected at the end of the third stage, causing the mission to fail.
The ISRO team is currently analyzing data from all ground stations to understand the cause of the anomaly. Further details will be shared once the investigation is complete.
Earlier, the PSLV-C61 mission launched in May 2025 also faced a similar technical problem during its third stage. That mission aimed to place the EOS-09 satellite into a 505-kilometre orbit but was not successful.
The PSLV-C62 mission was the first space launch of 2026 and marked the 64th flight of the PSLV series. The EOS-N1 satellite, also known as Anvesha, was designed to enhance India’s capabilities in agriculture, urban planning, and environmental monitoring.
This mission included a demonstration of the KID (Coastal Initial Technology Demonstrator), a small re-entry vehicle developed by a startup from Spain. It was the ninth commercial mission conducted by ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited.
The PSLV-C62 used the DL variant, which features two solid strap-on motors, marking the fifth mission with this configuration. To date, PSLV has completed 63 successful flights, including key missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, Aditya-L1, and Astrosat. In 2017, it set a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.