Introduction: An Unexpected Setback for India’s Trusted Launcher

On January 12, 2026, ISRO’s mission PSLV-C62 turned into a disaster as the satellite failed to place the payloads into orbit. This was the second failure in succession for the PSLV mission in less than a year. However, the mission aimed to send EOS-N1, a hyperspectral earth observation satellite, and 15 co-passenger satellites to orbit earth, but an anomaly in the third stage caused the mission to go astray, and all 16 satellites were lost.

The PSLV has long been considered a reliable “workhorse” for the ISRO, boasting a 90% success rate over 60 missions since 1993. The PSLV has been used for such missions as the Chandrayaan-1, the Mars Orbiter Mission, as well as the Aditya-L1 missions. The two recent failures call for a new evaluation of the technical processes used, as well as of ISRO’s long-term space goals.

What Happened During the PSLV-C62 Mission?

Technical Anomaly in the Third Stage

The launch of the PSLV-C62 rocket was normal from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, but later in its trajectory exhibited some unusual phenomena in its roll rates and deviated from its normal trajectory, roughly eight to ten minutes after its launch. This occurred in the third stage of its launch, which is the most critical moment for its orbital insertion.

According to V. Narayanan, chairman of ISRO, telemetry revealed that the spacecraft was not functioning as it should towards the end of the third stage, resulting in the inability of the fourth stage to perform the mission. There is aFailure Analysis Committee to investigate the matter.

Echoes of the Earlier PSLV-C61 Failure

This is reminiscent of the issue seen during the PSLV-C61 launch in May 2025. In that mission, a similar third-stage problem prevented the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite from achieving its intended orbit.

“Engineers attributed the failure to a possible drop in chamber pressure during the third stage.” However, ISRO did not publicly share detailed findings. This lack of disclosure led to widespread speculation and multiple theories among experts and observers.

With the same stage failing again, attention has now firmly shifted to the third-stage solid motor. “We must ask whether these incidents indicate a deeper issue or merely represent isolated events.” Experts are examining potential flaws in design, manufacturing processes, or quality-control mechanisms.

Broader Implications for ISRO and India’s Space Ecosystem

Strategic and Commercial Consequences

The loss of the EOS-N1 (Anvesha) satellite, developed for the DRDO, assumes some significance from the point of view of the country’s strategy. This is because the satellite division of the DRDO is responsible for the country’s high-resolution earth observation

Together with it, other domestic startup satellite and foreign payloads belonging to Spaniards and other partners https://buzzook.com/how-donald-trumps-25-tariffs-on-countries-trading-with-iran-may-impact-india/ flew aboard the PSLV-C62. These missions are of scientific as well as commercial import. A spell of back-to-back failures mayattering the confidence of the global community and embroiling the emerging commercial launch landscape in India, which falls under the purview of the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Impact on Private Space Startups

The effects are also trickling over into the growing startup ecosystem in India. Companies such as Dhruva Space, TakeMe2Space, and Eon Space Labs have seen the loss of the critical payloads that slipped from the mission, thereby potentially slowing their future endeavors in a highly competitive international market.

Confidence, Reputation, and Future Missions

For years, the consistent performance of the PSLV made India the obvious and most affordable choice for global launch services. Its strong reliability record helped the country build trust across international markets. However, the failure of two consecutive launches has altered that perception. Global clients may now face higher insurance costs and tighter scrutiny over launch schedules.

At the same time, India’s ambitious space roadmap for 2026 faces new pressure. The plan includes https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ostriches-stoics-suspicions-what-back-to-back-pslv-failure-means-for-isro-10740062 additional navigation satellites, more smallsat launches, and major missions such as Gaganyaan. These recent setbacks could slow progress and demand corrective measures. ISRO may need to adopt new approaches or rely on alternative launch vehicles to stay on track.

Conclusion: From Ostriches to Open Questions

ISRO faces a choice between ignoring the problem like an ostrich or maintaining a stoic calm in the face of technical glitches. However, with whispers about irregularities, the need for transparency, in-depth analysis, and proper solutions gets louder.

The launch agency’s record of innovation is unquestionable. However, the recent PSLV failures highlight the harsh realities of space exploration. Even the best-designed and well-executed missions can fail, making strong management, rigorous checks, and transparent communication just as important as the launch vehicles themselves.