Overview of the PSLV‑C62 Mission, Its Objective, Failure

Overview of the PSLV‑C62 Mission, Its Objective, Failure and the KID Capsule Outcome

Mission Objective and Background

The PSLV‑C62 / EOS‑N1 mission was conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as part of its routine launch manifest. It was intended to be the first orbital launch of 2026 and marked the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has historically been a reliable workhorse launch vehicle for India’s civil and commercial space activities. The mission was planned to place its primary payload — the EOS‑N1 Earth observation satellite — and multiple co‑passenger satellites into a sun‑synchronous orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on January 12, 2026. The mission also included a demonstrator re‑entry capsule developed by a European enterprise.

The PSLV is a four‑stage launch vehicle with alternating solid and liquid propulsion stages that has supported a range of missions, including lunar, Mars and solar exploration, as well as satellite deployments for domestic and international customers.

Official Statement on the Anomaly

According to ISRO’s official mission page, the PSLV‑C62 mission encountered an anomaly near the end of the third stage (PS3) of flight, which prevented the vehicle from achieving the intended orbital insertion. A detailed analysis of flight data has been initiated to understand the cause of the deviation from expected performance.

The space agency confirmed via its official account that the anomaly was observed during the PS3 stage, and that the vehicle subsequently deviated from its planned flight path. ISRO has stated that it is still analysing the data and will share further findings once the analysis is complete.

Outcome of the Mission

Due to the anomaly, the PSLV‑C62 rocket failed to place the EOS‑N1 satellite and the other co‑passenger payloads into orbit, resulting in their loss. Official statements have not yet detailed the final disposition of all spacecraft, as ground telemetry and tracking data continue to be analysed.

KID Re‑entry Capsule Report

One of the payloads aboard the PSLV‑C62 mission was the Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) — a small re‑entry capsule prototype developed by a European startup. While ISRO has not issued an official statement specifically confirming the survival or performance of the capsule, reports from credible sources indicate that the capsule separated from the launch vehicle and transmitted telemetry back to Earth for a short period following the anomaly. These indications suggest that, despite the overall mission failure, the capsule may have survived the off‑nominal flight environment and provided valuable data before returning to Earth.

Analysis and Next Steps

ISRO has initiated a detailed failure analysis to determine the root cause of the third stage anomaly. The agency emphasises that such investigations are standard practice following any mission deviation, and outcomes will inform future PSLV operations. The PSLV programme has a long history of successful missions, and this anomaly will be studied to maintain and improve the vehicle’s reliability.

AeroMorning January 19, 2026

Source :  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and credible reports.