A Space Mission Faces a Setback: What Happened with PSLV-C62/EOS-N1?
On January 12, 2026, the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission experienced an unexpected issue. The launch, which took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, faced an anomaly near the end of the PS3 stage. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a thorough investigation to understand the cause.
ISRO's Chairman, Dr. V Narayanan, explained that the rocket, a four-stage vehicle with two solid and two liquid stages, performed as expected up to the third stage. However, as the third stage neared completion, there were noticeable disturbances in the vehicle's roll rates, leading to a deviation in its flight path. The team is currently analyzing the data to determine the exact nature of the problem.
The mission, which began after a 22.5-hour countdown, aimed to deploy the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites into orbit. The launch occurred at 10:18 a.m.
The EOS-N1 satellite, designed for strategic purposes, was part of a commercial mission managed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The mission plan involved injecting EOS-N1 and 14 co-passenger satellites into a Sun Synchronous Orbit. Following this, the PS4 stage was scheduled to be restarted to initiate de-boosting and enter a re-entry trajectory, culminating in the separation of the KID Capsule. Both the PS4 stage and the KID capsule were planned to re-enter Earth's atmosphere, with their impact expected in the South Pacific Ocean.
The co-passenger satellites included: Theos-2 (Thailand and UK), CGUSAT, DSUSAT, MOI-1, LACHIT, Thybolt-3, Munal, KID, Edusat, Uaisat, Galaxy Explorer, Orbital Temple, Aldebaran-1, Sanskarsat, and AyulSat. These satellites were developed by various startups, academic institutions, and international collaborations.
But here's where it gets controversial... This isn't the first time ISRO has encountered difficulties. On May 18, 2025, the PSLV-C61 mission, which was meant to launch the EOS-09 satellite, also faced a setback due to an issue in the third stage of the rocket. This PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission marks the 105th launch from Sriharikota, the 64th flight of the PSLV, and the fifth mission of the PSLV-DL variant.
And this is the part most people miss... The impact of these setbacks extends beyond just the technical challenges. They also raise questions about the reliability of the PSLV and the implications for future missions.
What do you think about the recent setbacks? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
