In the predawn haze of Sriharikota, a rocket's roar shattered the silence, promising another triumph for India's space ambitions. But what began as a routine ascent quickly spiraled into uncertainty. On January 12, 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) fired off its PSLV-C62 mission—the agency's first of the year and the 64th flight of its reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Loaded with cutting-edge satellites and high hopes, the launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre hit a snag that left engineers scrambling and the global space community watching closely.
A Promising Liftoff Meets Sudden Silence
The countdown had ticked smoothly for 22 hours and 30 minutes, starting at 12:48 p.m. IST the day before. No glitches marred the preparations, a stark contrast to the aborted PSLV-C61 mission in 2025. At 10:18 a.m. IST, the 260-tonne PSLV-DL variant—bolstered by two solid strap-on motors—thundered skyward, carrying the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite, dubbed Anvesha, as its star payload. Fourteen co-passenger satellites from Indian startups like Aayusat and Orbital Temple, plus international clients, hitched a ride, making this the ninth dedicated commercial venture by NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), ISRO's business arm.
The goal? A precise polar sun-synchronous orbit hundreds of kilometers above Earth, ideal for monitoring our planet's rhythms. Deployment was slated for just 17 minutes post-liftoff, followed by an ambitious in-orbit demo over two hours later. Yet, as the rocket's third stage neared the end of its burn, telemetry vanished. The path deviated. ISRO's terse statement captured the moment: "The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated."
The Payloads: Eyes in the Sky and a Daring Re-Entry Test
At the heart of the mission sat Anvesha, a hyperspectral imaging powerhouse designed for strategic and environmental oversight. Its cameras could dissect light into hundreds of wavelengths, revealing hidden details in agriculture, disaster zones, and—whispers suggest—defense surveillance. While ISRO bills it as a civilian Earth observer, ties to the Defence Research and Development Organisation hint at dual-use potential, blending scientific curiosity with national security.
Sharing the spotlight: the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID), a 25-kilogram re-entry capsule prototype from an unnamed Spanish startup. This pint-sized pioneer aimed to restart the rocket's fourth stage, de-boost into a controlled descent, and splash down in the remote South Pacific. Influenced by trailblazers like SpaceX's Starship, it promised to push boundaries in small-satellite recovery tech. Official counts pegged the total payloads at 15, though some reports inflated that to 18—discrepancies ISRO swiftly clarified with its manifest.
But the third-stage hiccup—a solid-propellant burnout gone awry—cast doubt on everything. Telemetry blackout meant no real-time fixes, and as of mid-January 2026, confirmation of orbital success remained elusive. ISRO reported a flawless initial ascent, yet the anomaly clouded satellite deployments.
Echoes of Past Glories and Recent Stumbles
This isn't PSLV's first rodeo. With 63 successful flights under its belt—including icons like Chandrayaan-1, the Mars Orbiter Mission, and Aditya-L1—the vehicle has earned its stripes as India's orbital stalwart. Yet, the shadow of 2025's scrubbed launch loomed large. Analysts point to the PS3 stage's solid propellant as the likely culprit, possibly a pressure failure or injector glitch, though ISRO's probe continues without public details.
No one was hurt, and no ground damage occurred—a small mercy in the high-stakes game of rocketry. The South Pacific splashdown site for KID posed zero reported risks, but the broader fallout? Indian startups, uninsured per reports from the New Indian Express, rolled the dice on this rideshare, embodying the bold spirit of India's space privatization push since 2019.
Ripples in India's Space Odyssey
As ISRO dissects the data, the incident underscores the perils of legacy tech in an era of reusable rockets. With heavier hitters like GSLV and LVM3 on the rise, PSLV's reliability faces scrutiny. Still, experts see this as a bump, not a barrier, in India's commercial space surge. NSIL's model keeps drawing clients, risks be damned.
Looking ahead, 2026 brims with promise: more launches, Gaganyaan's human spaceflight prep, and lessons from this anomaly to fortify future flights. In the vast theater of space, where triumph and trouble orbit hand in hand, ISRO's resolve shines through—turning setbacks into stepping stones for the stars.
