ISRO’s PSLV-C62 Mission Faces Mid-Flight Scare as Third Stage Encounters an Anomaly

What Went Wrong With ISRO’s PSLV-C62 Mission After Liftoff?

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C62) mission encountered a technical anomaly during the critical third stage shortly after launch on Monday (January 12, 2026). The incident left the status of all 16 satellites on board uncertain.

PSLV Anomaly

The 44.4-metre-tall PSLV lifted off at 10.18 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It carried an Earth observation satellite, EOS-N1 (Anvesha), and 15 co-passenger satellites from India and overseas. 

The mission was intended to place them into a 512-kilometre Sun-Synchronous Orbit after a 17-minute flight. ISRO's live broadcast showed the rocket performing normally through its first and second stages. However, the officials noticed an anomaly after the beginning of the third stage.

About 30 minutes after liftoff, ISRO confirmed on X that the mission had “encountered an anomaly” during the end of the PS3 (third-stage) burn and that a detailed analysis was under way.

"The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated," ISRO wrote.

What Went Wrong with PSLV-C62?

“The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle with two solid stages and two liquid stages. The performance of the vehicle up to the end of the third stage was expected. Close to the end of the third stage we are seeing more disturbance in the vehicle and subsequently, there was a deviation observed in the flight path,” ISRO chairman V Narayanan said at the Mission Control Centre.

The ISRO chief said the trouble began near the end of the rocket’s third stage, when strap-on motors were providing thrust. That deviation prompted the rocket to lose its precise trajectory needed to inject the satellites into their intended orbit. 

Status of 16 Satellites

The Indian space agency has not yet confirmed whether EOS-N1 and the 15 other satellites were successfully deployed. Telemetry and tracking data from ground stations are still being analysed to determine the fate of the spacecraft.

ISRO chief added that ISRO would share more details once data from all tracking stations had been studied.

Final Thoughts

The anomaly is troubling because the previous PSLV mission in May 2025 also ran into problems in the third stage. It is the second consecutive setback for the ‘workhorse’ PSLV rocket.

The PSLV has flown missions to the Moon and Mars and launched satellites for dozens of countries. Out of more than 60 flights, only a handful have failed, but consecutive setbacks now threaten that reputation.