India’s trusted workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), faced a rare setback with the failure of its PSLV-C62 mission on January 12, 2026. This marks the second consecutive failure for the PSLV, raising concerns about the reliability of one of ISRO’s most successful launch vehicles.
what is PSLV?
The PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is a four-stage rocket developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It has been used for over 30 years to launch satellites into various orbits, including:- Polar and Sun-synchronous orbits- Geostationary Transfer Orbits (GTO)- Low Earth Orbits (LEO)
PSLV is known for its high success rate, having launched over 50 missions successfully before recent issues.
Mission Overview
Primary Payload: EOS-N1 (Anvesha) – a strategic Earth observation satellite by DRDO
Launch Date: January 12, 2026, at 10:18 AM IST
Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota
Rocket: PSLV-C62 (64th flight of the PSLV series)
What Went Wrong?
The third stage of the rocket malfunctioned, causing a drop in pressure and trajectory deviation. As a result, none of the satellites reached their intended orbits, and the mission was declared a failure.
What’s Next for ISRO?
ISRO has launched a full investigation into the failure. The agency may pause future PSLV launches until the issue is resolved. Meanwhile, focus may shift to newer launch vehicles. These include GSLV Mk III, which is used for heavier payloads. Another option is the SSLV, designed for quick, low-cost missions.