Science & TechnologyImportant2026-01-12

ISRO PSLV-C62 Mission Fails Due to PS3 Anomaly

In News

What Happened

On January 12, 2026, ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C62) failed to place its payloads into orbit during its first mission of the year. The rocket was carrying DRDO's Anvesha (EOS-N1) satellite along with 15 international co-passengers. The mission failed due to an anomaly in the solid-fueled third stage (PS3), which caused a deviation from the flight path and resulted in the loss of all satellites.

Why It Matters

This failure represents a rare setback for the PSLV, famously known as ISRO's reliable workhorse for Earth observation and commercial missions. The loss of DRDO's Anvesha delays India's strategic hyperspectral imaging capabilities, which are crucial for defense reconnaissance, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.

Background

History & Context

The PSLV is India's third-generation launch vehicle, traditionally known for its high reliability since its first successful launch in 1994. It consists of four stages: alternating solid (PS1, PS3) and liquid (PS2, PS4) propulsion systems. DRDO's Anvesha was designed as a low earth orbit (LEO) hyperspectral imaging satellite to enhance India's 'eye in the sky' capabilities, joining the ranks of previous Earth Observation Satellites (EOS). ISRO routinely forms a Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) following such incidents to identify the root cause and implement corrective measures.

What Changed

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BEFORE: The PSLV had an unbroken streak of dozens of successful missions, maintaining its reputation as one of the world's most reliable medium-lift launch vehicles. NOW: The C62 failure triggers a mandatory failure analysis, likely grounding the PSLV fleet temporarily until the PS3 solid motor anomaly is resolved.
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BEFORE: India was poised to immediately enhance its strategic border surveillance with the hyperspectral capabilities of EOS-N1. NOW: This defense capability is delayed, requiring DRDO and ISRO to build and launch a replacement satellite.
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BEFORE: 15 international customer satellites were scheduled to commence commercial operations in Low Earth Orbit. NOW: These payloads were lost, resulting in commercial delays for the international partners relying on ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event directly connects to NCERT Class 11 Physics Chapter 8 — Gravitation, specifically the principles of satellite orbital velocity and trajectory. For a rocket to place a satellite in Low Earth Orbit, each stage must provide a specific velocity increment; the failure of the PS3 stage meant the PSLV did not achieve the required orbital velocity, causing Earth's gravity to pull the rocket down before it could achieve a stable orbit.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements regarding the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and hyperspectral imaging is/are correct? 1. The PSLV is a four-stage rocket that utilizes only liquid propellants across all its stages to achieve orbital insertion. 2. Hyperspectral imaging satellites capture data across a wide, continuous spectrum of light, allowing for detailed material identification on the Earth's surface.

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