PSLV-C62 Stage 3 Failure/sbkinews.in
India’s space ambitions faced another jolt as the PSLV-C62 mission, launched on January 11, 2026, from Sriharikota, encountered a critical anomaly in its third stage, mirroring the 2025 failure. This setback has cast doubts on ISRO’s reliability for upcoming commercial launches. The mission aimed to deploy 16 satellites, including DRDO’s Anvesha surveillance satellite.
Mission Overview
The PSLV-C62 lifted off at 10:18 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, carrying a primary payload of the Anvesha earth observation satellite developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Accompanying it were 15 international satellites from Brazil, Nepal, the UK, and Indian firms like Hyderabad’s Dhruva Space, which contributed seven units. The first and second stages performed nominally, but about 30 minutes post-liftoff, deviations appeared in the third stage, leading ISRO to report an “anomaly.”
ISRO chief Dr. V Narayanan confirmed a detailed analysis is underway, though the mission’s outcome remains unclassified as a full failure. This four-stage, expendable rocket has a storied history with 64 prior launches, boasting just four failures until now—a 93.75% success rate that underscores its robustness despite occasional hiccups.
PSLV-C62 Stage 3 Failure
Echoes of 2025 Setback
This incident eerily repeats the PSLV’s sole 2025 mission failure, also pinned on the third stage, where an analysis committee’s report stayed confidential. Post-2025, ISRO emphasized improvements, yet the recurrence highlights persistent vulnerabilities in this liquid-fueled stage, critical for precise orbital insertion. Experts note the third stage’s role in velocity adjustments makes it a high-risk phase, prone to ignition or structural issues.
The PSLV, operational since 1993, has evolved through variants like PSLV-XL, but third-stage snags have now struck twice in two years. As India’s workhorse for low-earth orbit payloads up to 1,750 kg, such repeats erode confidence, especially with private players entering the fray.
PSLV-C62 Stage 3 Failure
Impact on Satellites and Stakeholders
All 16 satellites are likely lost, denying orbits to Anvesha’s advanced imaging capabilities for defense surveillance and the co-passengers’ commercial missions. Dhruva Space’s seven satellites alone represent a major blow to India’s burgeoning private space sector, delaying their earth observation services.
International partners from Brazil, Nepal, and the UK now face rescheduling, amplifying financial losses estimated in crores. For ISRO, this disrupts a packed 2026 calendar, including an industry-led PSLV by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), now under scrutiny.
Broader Implications for India’s Space Program
This failure arrives amid ISRO’s push for self-reliance under the Gaganyaan human spaceflight and Navic navigation expansions. With GSLV Mk-III handling heavier lifts, PSLV remains vital for smallsat rideshares, generating revenue for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). A fifth failure in 65 flights keeps the track record strong at over 92% success, but back-to-back issues signal urgency for third-stage redesigns.
Startups betting on PSLV for affordable access—cheaper than SpaceX’s rideshares—face delays, potentially stalling India’s goal to capture 10% of the global smallsat market by 2030. The anomaly prompts questions on ground testing rigor, echoing SSLV’s past third-stage tests that improved payload by 90 kg via carbon-epoxy cases.
ISRO’s Response and Future Path
ISRO’s transparency in real-time updates via social media reflects its maturing communication, with Dr. Narayanan hinting at swift root-cause analysis. Past recoveries, like post-2017 PSLV-C37’s record 104-satellite launch, show resilience. Engineers may revisit igniter, nozzle, or propellant flow issues, drawing from 2025’s unpublished findings.
Looking ahead, this could accelerate hybrid propulsion R&D or SSLV scaling for niche launches. India’s space economy, valued at $8 billion, eyes $44 billion by 2033; PSLV fixes are pivotal. As a six-year SEO content veteran covering ISRO beats for regional outlets like SBKI News, such events underscore journalism’s role in demystifying space tech for UP and Delhi audiences passionate about national achievements.NDTV
