India’s PSLV Rocket Suffers Third Stage Anomaly; Consecutive Failures Ground Launcher

SRIHARIKOTA, India — The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a significant setback on January 12, 2026, when its typically reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) failed to deliver its payloads into orbit. The mission, designated PSLV-C62, experienced a "technical anomaly" during its third stage, resulting in the loss of the primary payload, the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite, and 15 co-passenger satellites.

This incident marks the second consecutive failure for the PSLV, a rocket family historically celebrated for its high success rate and operational consistency. The failure follows the loss of the PSLV-C61 mission in May 2025, raising questions regarding quality control and supply chain stability for India's premier launch vehicle.

Flight Details and Anomaly

The PSLV-C62 lifted off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:18 a.m. local time (IST). The initial phases of the flight appeared nominal, with the solid-fueled first stage and the liquid-fueled second stage performing as expected. However, flight controllers reported deviations approximately eight minutes into the mission, shortly after the ignition of the third stage (PS3).

According to telemetry data, the vehicle experienced a disturbance in its roll rates, leading to a significant deviation from the programmed flight path. The third stage of the PSLV utilizes a solid rocket motor to provide the high-velocity thrust necessary for orbital insertion. A loss of control at this critical phase prevents the vehicle from achieving the required velocity and trajectory to sustain orbit.

ISRO Chairman S. Somanath (referenced as V. Narayanan in some reports pending official transcript confirmation) addressed the failure in a post-launch briefing. "The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of the PS3 stage," the Chairman stated. "We observed a disturbance in the vehicle roll rates and a subsequent deviation in the flight path. A detailed analysis has been initiated to determine the root cause."

Strategic and Commercial Losses

The primary payload, EOS-N1 (also known as Anvesha), was a strategic microsatellite developed for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Designed for maritime surveillance, the satellite carried hyperspectral imaging capabilities intended to enhance India's domain awareness.

The mission also carried a diverse array of international and domestic co-passenger payloads, all of which are presumed lost. These included:

• AayulSAT: A technology demonstrator from an Indian startup aimed at testing on-orbit refueling technologies.
• Munal: A satellite developed by Nepal, representing a diplomatic space collaboration.
• KID: A re-entry vehicle prototype from a Spanish aerospace startup. While the payload failed to reach orbit, the startup later confirmed via social media that the prototype transmitted data during the anomaly before splashdown.

Historical Context and Reliability Concerns

The PSLV has long been considered the backbone of India’s space program, having successfully launched major missions such as Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission. Prior to 2025, the vehicle maintained a success rate exceeding 94 percent. However, the back-to-back failures of PSLV-C61 in May 2025 and PSLV-C62 in January 2026 represent a statistical anomaly for the program.

The PSLV-C61 mission failure was attributed to a drop in pressure in the third-stage motor casing, preventing the payload from reaching orbit. The similarity in the flight phase of the C62 failure—specifically the third stage—suggests a potential systemic issue within the solid propulsion manufacturing or integration process.

Between these failures, ISRO successfully conducted the PSLV-C60 mission in December 2024, which deployed the SpaDeX docking experiment, and the PSLV-C59 mission earlier that same month. The recurrence of third-stage issues puts intense pressure on the Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) to identify and rectify the fault before the rocket is cleared for future flights.

The failure also impacts NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, as it seeks to compete in the global launch market against providers like SpaceX and Rocket Lab. Reliability is a primary currency in the commercial launch sector, and consecutive failures may prompt insurance underwriters and customers to reassess the risk profile of the PSLV.