Back to Back PSLV Failures Mark Unusual Chapter in ISRO’s Launch History
India’s PSLV Faces Second Consecutive Failure: Key Developments and Implications
Date: January 12, 2026
Location: Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has encountered a significant setback with its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) programme, as the PSLV-C62 mission experienced a major anomaly shortly after lift off this morning, resulting in mission failure. This marks the second successive unsuccessful PSLV mission within approximately eight months, raising questions about future reliability and strategic planning for India’s space launch operations.
- The PSLV-C62 launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:17–10:18 AM IST on January 12, 2026, carrying the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite and 15 other payloads, including satellites from domestic startups, academic institutions, and foreign partners.
- ISRO reported that the rocket’s performance was nominal through the first and second stages, but an anomaly occurred near the end of the third stage (PS3), where a disturbance in vehicle roll rates led to a deviation from the planned trajectory.
- As a result, the mission failed to place the payloads into the intended orbit, and it is currently understood that all 16 satellites are likely lost.
ISRO has stated that data analysis and investigation are underway to determine the root cause of the anomaly.
This is the second successive failure for the PSLV:
- PSLV-C61 (May 18, 2025): Carried the EOS-09 satellite but failed due to an issue with the third stage, specifically a fall in chamber pressure that prevented orbit insertion.
- PSLV-C62 (January 12, 2026): Experienced a trajectory deviation close to the end of the third stage.
Before these events, the PSLV had a long record of success with a failure rate under 10% across more than 60 flights since the early 1990s, including missions such as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, and Aditya-L1.
Technical and Organisational Implication
1. Reliability of the PSLV Workhorse
The PSLV has been heralded as a cornerstone of India’s space launch capabilities for decades. Its consecutive failures—particularly in the third stage configuration—represent an unusual trend for a system historically considered very reliable.
2. Investigation and Failure Analysis
ISRO typically convenes a Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) to undertake detailed technical reviews after such anomalies. The agency will analyse telemetry, stage performance metrics, and manufacturing or integration data to isolate faults before resuming launches.
3. Impact on Commercial and International Customers
- These recent setbacks may temper confidence among international partners and commercial clients who contract PSLV services, especially given the loss of multiple foreign satellites in the C62 mission.
- NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, leads PSLV commercial payload integration. Confidence in mission reliability is critical for future contracts.
4. Strategic Consequences for National Capabilities
- Earth observation capabilities that were to be enabled by EOS satellites will see delays, affecting weather forecasting, agricultural monitoring, and strategic surveillance functions.
- The consecutive failures spotlight the need for enhanced quality assurance, especially for propulsion and guidance subsystems at critical stages such as PS3.
Space and defence analysts note that while failures are a part of iterative development in space technology, consecutive setbacks for a long-standing reliable system are unusual and necessitate organisational introspection. Comprehensive investigations and transparent reporting of the underlying causes will be important to restore trust among stakeholders.
ISRO leadership, including Chairman V. Narayanan, has emphasised ongoing analysis and a commitment to addressing identified anomalies before resuming regular operations.
The back-to-back PSLV mission failures represent a notable challenge for India’s space programme. While the PSLV has historically demonstrated robust performance, the recent anomalies—especially in third-stage behaviour—underline the complexities of launch vehicle engineering and the high precision required for successful orbital insertion. The outcomes of the current failure analysis and subsequent corrective actions will be crucial for ISRO’s future launch cadence, domestic and international partnerships, and confidence in India’s launch services.
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