PSLV-C62 mission fails; loses control in third stage

SRIHARIKOTA: ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission has failed. The rocket, which successfully lifted off from Earth, later deviated from the launch path and lost control in the third stage, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said. This was ISRO's first launch of 2026. This is the second consecutive time that a PSLV launch has failed.

In May last year, the PSLV-C61 mission to put the Earth observation satellite EOS-O into orbit failed. The problem was encountered in the third stage of the launch like today. The mission failed due to an unusual decrease in the pressure in the solid motor chamber.

The PSLV-C62 mission was to carry 16 satellites, including the Earth observation satellite 'Anvesha'. PSLV-C62 was launched at 10.17 am today from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

'Anvesha' was the main satellite in the mission. The data obtained from it was to be used by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ISRO has not released details of the probe, which will orbit the Earth at an altitude of 511 km.

The other satellites besides Anvesha are from India and foreign countries. These satellites were launched through NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO. The re-entry capsule of a Spanish startup was also included in today's launch.

The reentry capsule, called Kid, is being sent to test a new technology for safely returning people from space to Earth at a low cost. The capsule will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere within two hours of launch and land safely in the South Pacific Ocean.