Indian satellite launch failure: PSLV-C62 key details
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officially announced today the failure of its latest space mission to place an advanced Earth observation satellite and 15 other small spacecraft into their designated orbits. This announcement came after the launch vehicle experienced a sudden technical malfunction that prevented the mission from being completed successfully, marking a temporary setback in India's impressive space program.
Details of the PSLV-C62 mission malfunction
The organization explained in an official statement via its digital channels that the PSLV rocket, on flight number C62, encountered a critical technical problem at the end of its third-stage activation. The four-stage rocket launched at 10:18 AM local time from the launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island (southeast India). Although the initial stages of the launch were successful, the deviation in the performance of the third stage prevented the payload from reaching its intended orbit, resulting in the loss of the satellite and its accompanying vehicles.
The importance of the satellite's payload and the impact of losing it
This mission is of particular importance given the nature of the payload the rocket was carrying. Earth observation satellites (EOS) play a vital role in numerous fields, including natural disaster management, crop monitoring, urban planning, and climate change monitoring. The loss of this satellite, along with 15 other small spacecraft—mostly belonging to international research or commercial organizations—represents both a financial and scientific loss, as it delays the collection of crucial data upon which many Indian and international institutions depend.
The history of the PSLV spacecraft and India's place in the space race
The PSLV (Polar Launch Vehicle) is known as the Indian Space Research Organisation's "workhorse" due to its long and distinguished track record of reliability, having been used by India in historic missions such as Chandrayaan-1 to the Moon and Mangalyaan to Mars. However, reports indicate that this is the second time this model has experienced a failure, following a previous incident in May 2025 that also involved problems with its third-stage engines.
This event comes at a time of fierce international competition in the space sector, with India striving to solidify its position as a preferred destination for launching commercial satellites at low cost and high reliability. Despite this setback, experts anticipate that ISRO will conduct a thorough investigation to pinpoint the root cause of the malfunction and rectify it swiftly, ensuring the continuation of its ambitious space program, which has made significant strides in recent years.
