Failures have been rare — which makes the back‑to‑back losses of PSLV‑C61 and PSLV‑C62 particularly alarming.
Published Jan 12, 2026 | 1:11 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 12, 2026 | 1:11 PM
The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during end of the PS3 stage. Credit: x.com/isro
Synopsis: India’s trusted PSLV rocket has suffered two consecutive failures within a year, both during its third stage. The May 2025 PSLV‑C61 mission lost a strategic satellite, while January 2026’s PSLV‑C62 failure destroyed DRDO’s EOS‑N1 spy satellite and 15 smaller payloads. The rare setbacks raise concerns over systemic issues and dent ISRO’s reliability in defense and commercial launches.
India’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), long hailed as the country’s “workhorse” rocket, has suffered two consecutive failures within a year, raising questions about systemic issues in its third stage and dealing a blow to India’s strategic space ambitions.
On Monday, 12 January, the PSLV‑C62 mission ended in upset when the rocket encountered an anomaly during the end of its third stage (PS3).
The deviation caused the vehicle to veer off course, leading to the loss of its primary payload — the EOS‑N1 (Anvesha) hyperspectral spy satellite developed by the DRDO. Alongside Anvesha, 15 smaller satellites, including international commercial payloads, were also lost.
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 setback comes just months after the PSLV‑C61 mission in May 2025, which similarly failed due to a third‑stage anomaly. That mission carried a strategic national security satellite, whose loss was described by officials as a “serious blow” to India’s defense surveillance capabilities.
PSLV has been ISRO’s most dependable launch vehicle since its debut in 1993, with more than 50 successful missions. It has carried satellites for India’s navigation, earth observation, and interplanetary missions, including the celebrated Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan projects.
Failures have been rare — which makes the back‑to‑back losses of PSLV‑C61 and PSLV‑C62 particularly alarming. Both missions faltered at the same stage, suggesting a recurring technical flaw. The team is now probing whether design, manufacturing, or quality control lapses contributed to the anomalies.
The loss of Anvesha is especially damaging. The satellite was designed to provide hyperspectral imaging — a technology that enables detailed analysis of terrain, vegetation, and defense installations. For India’s armed forces, Anvesha was expected to be a game‑changer in surveillance and intelligence gathering.
With PSLV‑C61 already having cost India another defense satellite, the twin failures have left a gap in the country’s strategic space assets. Officials admit that rebuilding these capabilities will take time and a big chunk of investment.
Commercially, the failures also dent ISRO’s reputation as a reliable launch provider. The PSLV has long attracted foreign clients for small satellite launches, thanks to its cost‑effectiveness and track record. Losing 15 international payloads on PSLV‑C62 could shake confidence among global customers.
ISRO has announced a detailed investigation into both missions. Preliminary reports confirm disturbances during the third stage, but the exact cause remains unclear. Engineers are examining whether the anomalies stemmed from propulsion issues, structural weaknesses, or guidance system errors.
The Defence Ministry is also closely monitoring the inquiry, given the loss of critical assets. Officials have stressed on the need for corrective measures before future PSLV missions.
