ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission, marking India's first orbital launch of 2026, encountered a serious anomaly shortly after liftoff on Monday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, carrying the primary EOS-N1 (Anvesha) Earth observation satellite and 14 co-passenger payloads, deviated from its planned trajectory following a disturbance detected in the third stage. The space agency has yet to confirm whether any satellites were successfully deployed into their intended polar sun-synchronous orbit.

The rocket lifted off as scheduled for its 64th flight, with the objective of placing the EOS-N1 satellite first, followed by a cluster of domestic and international small satellites procured through NewSpace India Ltd. The mission also featured an in-orbit demonstration of a small re-entry capsule developed by a Spanish startup. However, ISRO officials reported an abnormality during the third-stage operation, which caused the vehicle to stray from its designated flight path.

In an official statement, ISRO confirmed the anomaly and stated that teams are actively analyzing telemetry data to assess the mission's outcome. “Today, we had attempted the PSLV-C62 launch mission. We are analysing the data and shall come back to you,” the agency noted. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan specifically highlighted the third-stage disturbance as the trigger for the deviation, emphasizing that detailed evaluation of vehicle performance and payload status is underway.

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This setback follows the aborted PSLV mission in late 2025 due to a pre-launch technical issue, heightening the significance of the PSLV-C62 attempt for restoring confidence in the reliable workhorse rocket. The PSLV series has historically been ISRO’s most dependable launch vehicle for placing satellites in various orbits, including sun-synchronous paths critical for Earth observation missions like EOS-N1.

ISRO has assured that a comprehensive update will be provided once the in-depth analysis of the anomaly and telemetry records is complete. The space community awaits clarity on whether the primary satellite and co-passengers achieved orbit or if the mission resulted in partial or total loss, underscoring the challenges even experienced agencies face in complex launch operations.

Also Read: ISRO to Launch Hyperspectral ‘Anvesha’ Satellite Aboard PSLV-C62 on January 12