PSLV setbacks continue as India loses crucial satellite again
In a rare and troubling development for India’s space program, the PSLV, long regarded as ISRO’s reliable workhorse, has faced back-to-back failures. The PSLV-C61 mission on 18th May 2025 and the PSLV-C62 mission on 12th January 2026 both ended in mid-flight mishaps, resulting in the loss of multi-million-dollar satellites intended for national security and Earth observation purposes. Over its 33-year operational history, the PSLV has flown 64 times, suffering only four major failures. Notably, both the 2025 and the 2026 setbacks have been traced to issues in the rocket’s third stage.
Addressing the nation from the spaceport on Monday, ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan offered a candid update on the PSLV-C62 mission. “PSLV is a four-stage rocket,” he explained. However, by the end of the third stage, we observed a disturbance in the vehicle, leading to a deviation in the flight path. We are analyzing the data and will provide a detailed report soon.”
This is reminiscent of the statement he had given after the May 2025 launch. At that time, Dr. The third stage ignited, but we observed an anomaly in its functioning, preventing the mission from being accomplished. We are studying the data carefully.” He had added that the third stage, which relies on a solid-fuel motor system, showed a fall in chamber pressure, and the team was thoroughly examining the performance.
Monday’s PSLV-C62 flight was particularly significant because it was intended as a comeback after the May 2025 setback. Following that failure, the PSLV was temporarily grounded, making this the first launch of 2026 and a critical test of ISRO’s ability to bounce back from adversity. The May 2025 mission had resulted in the loss of the EOS-09 radar imaging satellite, a high-value asset designed to enhance India’s all-weather, day-and-night surveillance capabilities.
The primary satellite aboard PSLV-C62 was the EOS-N1, also known as ‘Anvesha,’ developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). This Earth Observation satellite was slated to operate at an altitude of 511 kilometers. EOS-N1 is equipped with hyperspectral imaging capabilities, allowing it to capture a spectrum of light far beyond what the human eye or conventional optical satellites can detect.
Hyperspectral sensors work by detecting how sunlight reflects off different surfaces—soil, water, vegetation, metals, and man-made structures—across hundreds of wavelengths. These reflections are then analyzed to identify the specific material composition of the surface below. Such precision makes satellites like EOS-N1 invaluable for defense, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and resource management.
While the repeated failures are a setback for ISRO, the organization’s transparency and prompt analysis reflect its commitment to learning and improving. The PSLV, despite these rare anomalies, remains a symbol of India’s achievements in space technology, and the nation continues to watch closely as ISRO works to restore the rocket’s unmatched reliability.