Post by : Badri Ariffin

India’s space organization ISRO encountered an unforeseen challenge on Monday during the launch of its PSLV-C62 rocket, raising doubts about the successful deployment of its payloads.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C62) took off from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carrying the EOS-N1 (Anvesha) Earth observation satellite alongside 14 additional satellites. Shortly after launch, a disruption occurred in the rocket’s third stage, altering its intended flight trajectory.

ISRO confirmed the anomaly, stating that its engineers are diligently reviewing telemetry and flight data to ascertain the specifics of the malfunction and whether the satellites have reached their planned orbits.

“The PSLV-C62 launch mission was conducted today. We are currently analyzing the data and will provide updates shortly,” ISRO mentioned in a concise statement.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that the disruption in the third stage led to the trajectory deviation, and a comprehensive technical assessment is ongoing to evaluate the implications of the anomaly on the mission and the payloads' status.

As of now, ISRO has not confirmed the successful placement of the EOS-N1 and the 14 co-passenger satellites into their designated sun-synchronous polar orbit. Engineers are closely scrutinizing the telemetry data received from the rocket to verify the condition and positioning of the spacecraft.

The PSLV-C62 mission served as India’s inaugural space launch of 2026 and marked the 64th operation of the reliable PSLV rocket. This launch was particularly significant following the aborted PSLV mission in 2025 due to a technical issue discovered during the countdown.

In addition to the primary Earth observation satellite, this mission aimed to deploy 14 domestic and international co-passenger satellites facilitated by NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO. Moreover, the mission was to feature an in-orbit demonstration of a small re-entry capsule designed by a Spanish startup.

ISRO emphasized that a detailed update will be provided once the thorough analysis of the anomaly and flight data concludes.

The mission's outcome is highly anticipated, as PSLV has established itself as a cornerstone of India’s satellite launch capabilities, boasting a formidable reliability record.

#Global News #Space #NASA