Stage 3 Issue Reported During ISRO Launch PSLV C62, Investigation Underway
India’s space program began in 2026 with high expectations. On January 12, 2026, ISRO launched its trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C62, from Sriharikota. The mission aimed to place the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite into orbit. The lift-off was smooth. The early stages performed as planned. For a few minutes, everything looked normal. Then came an unexpected moment.
During the third stage of the flight, engineers noticed an unusual disturbance. The rocket’s path showed signs of deviation. ISRO quickly confirmed that an anomaly had occurred and stated that data analysis was underway. No immediate conclusions were shared. The focus shifted from celebration to careful review.
This event matters for more than one reason. PSLV is known as ISRO’s most reliable launcher. It has carried hundreds of satellites for India and other countries. Any issue, even a partial one, draws attention from scientists, commercial partners, and space watchers worldwide.
What exactly happened, and why it matters, is now the key question.
What Happened During the PSLV-C62 Stage 3 mission? Timeline of the Anomaly
The PSLV-C62 mission lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10:18 AM IST on January 12, 2026, with the primary goal of orbiting the EOS-N1 (named Anvesha) Earth observation satellite along with 14-18 co-passenger satellites. The launch began as planned, and the first and second stages performed normally.
Trouble emerged near the end of the third stage (PS3) burn. Space agency telemetry showed an unexpected disturbance, followed by a deviation from the planned flight path. The precise moment the anomaly began was just seconds before third stage burnout, leading to a loss of normal staging sequence and preventing the fourth stage from igniting on schedule.
Soon after, ISRO officially confirmed the deviation and stated that a detailed analysis of flight data is underway to understand the cause. Public updates so far have focused on the anomaly itself and the ongoing data review rather than confirmed reasons or results on payload deployment.
PSLV Technical Deep-Dive: Why Is Stage 3 Critical?
The third stage of PSLV (PS3) uses a high-performance solid rocket motor (S7) that ignites after the first two stages. This stage provides a significant velocity boost as the rocket ascends through the upper atmosphere. Its role is vital in reaching the velocity and altitude needed for successful orbit insertion.
During a typical PSLV flight, PS3 burns for about 110-120 seconds before separating cleanly. If there is an abnormal disturbance in thrust, guidance, or structural stability, the vehicle can veer off its planned trajectory. Even small deviations at this stage can snowball into large errors by the time the upper stage should take over.
Solid rocket motors do not allow for throttle changes once ignited. They follow a fixed thrust profile. If the thrust pattern differs from design due to a manufacturing defect, casing anomaly, or unexpected pressure fluctuations, the vehicle can behave unpredictably.
Historical Context: PSLV Track Record and Recent Setbacks
The PSLV has long been ISRO’s most reliable launcher, earning a reputation as the organisation’s “workhorse.” Over decades, it has placed scientific, Earth observation, remote sensing, and foreign customer satellites into orbit with strong consistency.
However, this mission marks a second consecutive setback for PSLV. In May 2025, the PSLV-C61 mission failed due to a third-stage technical glitch linked to irregular chamber behaviour. That incident also prevented the intended payload from reaching orbit.
The recurrence of issues during the same stage of PS3 raises concerns in the aerospace community. Solid rocket motors are robust but sensitive to internal performance conditions. Detecting anomalies in two missions in close succession highlights the complex nature of launch systems, even for a proven rocket.
ISRO’s Investigation: Process and Focus Areas
Immediately after the flight deviation, ISRO announced that it had begun a detailed analysis of all recorded flight data. This includes telemetry streams, guidance signals, thrust profiles, and onboard control responses logged during the PSLV-C62 flight.
Typically, such investigations examine every subsystem involved at the time of the anomaly. Potential focus areas include:
- Propulsion parameters (pressure, burn consistency, structural stress).
- Guidance and navigation signals (sensor measurements, control commands).
- Separation events between stages, to verify clean transitions.
In past cases, ISRO has convened cross-institution committees with experts from aerospace research bodies and technical institutes. Although ISRO has not yet confirmed specific panel formations for this mission, such mechanisms are common practice when deep technical analysis is needed.
The investigation aims first to determine whether the anomaly was caused by a hardware issue, guidance error, structural factor, or an external condition that influenced PS3 behaviour. Only after this can corrective actions be designed for future flights.
Stakeholder Impact on PSLV-C62 Mission: Commercial & Strategic Implications
The PSLV-C62 mission was not just a scientific exercise. It carried the Anvesha/EOS-N1 hyperspectral satellite, intended for enhanced Earth-observation and surveillance roles, including environmental monitoring, agriculture assessment, and potentially defence use.
Alongside the primary payload were numerous commercial satellites from domestic and international customers. Deviations in the flight path and likely failure to reach orbit could mean loss of these spacecraft. This has financial implications for payload owners and could affect confidence in future rideshare bookings on PSLV.
NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, markets PSLV launch services globally. A mission anomaly, especially involving multiple co-passenger satellites, may prompt customer reassessment of risk, pricing models, and insurance claims.
Aerospace Expert Perspectives & Future Outlook
Aerospace analysts note that solid rocket motors like PS3 provide significant mission energy but are less forgiving than liquid engines once ignited. Small irregularities can create balance or guidance issues, particularly late in the burn when flight dynamics are delicate.
Experts suggest future investigations will look at manufacturing tolerances, fuel grain quality, nozzle alignment, and guidance sensor behaviour leading up to the anomaly. Improvements could involve better quality checks, more extensive test simulations, or enhanced sensor redundancy.
Even with setbacks, PSLV remains one of the world’s most frequently used medium-lift launchers. Lessons from this incident will feed into design reviews and mission planning.
Conclusion: What’s Next for PSLV-C62 and the Indian Space Program
The PSLV-C62 anomaly during the third stage was an unexpected and significant event for India’s first major space mission of 2026. ISRO’s prompt statement about the analysis underway shows a methodical approach to understanding the cause.
Final conclusions, including the fate of the payloads and technical findings, will come after deeper investigation. For now, this event highlights the complexity of space missions and the continued need for careful engineering and review.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
During the January 12, 2026, launch, ISRO reported a disturbance in the third stage. This caused the rocket to deviate from its planned path, triggering a detailed data review.
As of January 12, 2026, ISRO has not confirmed the successful orbit placement of EOS-N1. Engineers are still analyzing flight data before making a final mission status announcement.
Yes. PSLV remains largely reliable despite recent issues. ISRO continues investigations to improve safety and performance, while maintaining confidence in the rocket’s long operational history.
Disclaimer
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
