PSLV-C62
Failed 2026 Indian satellite launch

PSLV-C62
Payload encapsulation at PIF
PSLV-DL launch
Launch12 January 2026; 10:17 AM IST
(UTC +5:30) [1]
OperatorISRO
PadSatish Dhawan FLP
Payload
PSLV launches

The PSLV-C62 was the 64th flight of the ISRO's PSLV and its return to flight mission following PSLV-C61. The mission was launched on 12 January 2026 with multiple payloads for customers[2] but failed to reach orbit.[3][4][5]

Mission overview

  • Mass:
    • Payload weight: 1710 kg total
  • Overall height: 44.4 m (146 ft)
  • Propellant:
  • Propellant mass:
    • Boosters: 12,000 kg (26,000 lb)
    • Stage 1: 139,000 kg (306,000 lb)
    • Stage 2: 41,000 kg (90,000 lb)
    • Stage 3: 7,650 kg (16,870 lb)
    • Stage 4: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb)
  • Altitude:505.291 km[6]
  • Semi Major Axis: 6883.428 ± 10 km[6]
  • Inclination: 97.5 ± 0.12°[6]
  • Azimuth: 140°[6]

Payload

The primary payload of the mission was the EOS-N1 imaging satellite built for strategic purposes by DRDO.[7] A small 25 kg football-sized space capsule developed by the Spain-based startup Orbital Paradigm called Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) flew on the PS-4 stage. Bengaluru-based space company OrbitAID Aerospace expected to perform an on-orbit satellite refuelling expiriment with AayulSAT.[8] Twelve other commercial payloads totalling about 200 kg from companies and research institutions from India, Brazil, Nepal, Thailand, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom were also manifested for this flight.[9][10][11] The PS-4 was planned to make an orbital re-entry with the KID payload attached following primary payload injection. This was ISRO's first launch attempt of 2026.[6]

Flight

The rocket lifted off at 10:18:30 AM IST. The first and second stages performed normally during the course of flight. However, near the end of the third stage's operation, a deviation was observed in the flight controls related to its roll-rates just prior to stage separation, resulting in flight failure. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan indicated that detailed analysis for the flight's failure has been initiated by ISRO, refusing additional media statements. It was also noted that a similar failure was the cause for the unsuccessful C-61 flight eight months prior.[12][13][14][15] The Spanish re-entry space capsule KID was the only survivor of the launch failure, as it managed to separate from the rocket and transmitted flight data for three minutes with a peak of 28 g during its non-nominal descent.[16][17][18] It has been presumed that the vehicle achieved a suborbital trajectory of approximately -3800 x 390 km with a 98-degree inclination before plummeting roughly near 75°E, 18°S over the Southern Indian Ocean.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-to-kick-off-2026-with-pslv-c62-launch-on-january-12/article70481555.ece
  2. ^ Press Release:Press Information Bureau
  3. ^ Vasudev, Amit (12 January 2026). "Two consecutive PSLV failures in a year raise concerns over ISRO's 'workhorse' rocket". The South First | News, Politics, Sports, Entertainment & Live Updates. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  4. ^ "'Deviation seen in third-stage': Isro's PSLV-C62 mission fails". The Times of India. 12 January 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Indian PSLV rocket apparently fails for 2nd launch in a row (video)". Space. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e PSLV_C62_Brochure080126.pdf
  7. ^ "Isro will usher in NY with PSLV C62 mission on Monday; will launch surveillance sat EOS-N1, 18 payloads". The Times of India. 8 January 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Isro to launch startup's satellite refuelling mission with PSLV-C62: What is it?". India Today. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  9. ^ "What is Anvesha? All about India's new hyperspectral eye to be launched by PSLV-C62". The Week. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  10. ^ Madanapalle, Aditya (14 December 2025). "ISRO to launch LVM3 on 21 Dec, PSLV on 31 Dec". News9live. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  11. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Setback for ISRO: PSLV mission fails again, deviates from path". The Indian Express. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  13. ^ "ISRO PSLV-C62 mission Live Updates: 'Encountered an anomaly': ISRO's PSLV-C62 rocket deviates from flight path; detailed analysis initiated". The Times of India. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Why ISRO's PSLV-C62 failed months after the C61 setback?". The Economic Times. 12 January 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  15. ^ ISRO Official (11 January 2026). PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 Mission | Live Launch Coverage. Retrieved 13 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Gorman, Douglas (13 January 2026). "Exclusive: Orbital Paradigm Emerges as the Lone Survivor of Failed PSLV Launch". Payload. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  17. ^ Mukunth, Hemanth C. S. & Vasudevan (12 January 2026). "PSLV-C62 strays from flight path, fails to launch satellite". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  18. ^ Science Desk, India Today (13 January 2026). "Lone Spanish satellite survives PSLV-C62's failure, sends data from space". India Today. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  19. ^ Science Desk, India Today (13 January 2026). "PSLV-C62 fell in the Indian Ocean, satellites likely burned in the atmosphere". India Today. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
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