PSLV misfires. Again!!

ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission, carrying the Earth Observation satellite Anvesha along with 15 commercial payloads, encountered a technical anomaly during the third stage of its flight on Monday, marking the second consecutive setback for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle programme.

The 44.4-metre, four-stage rocket lifted off from the Sriharikota spaceport at 10.18 am as scheduled. ISRO said the first two stages performed normally , but near the end of the third stage (PS3), the vehicle experienced disturbances that led to a deviation from its intended flight path. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said flight data was being analysed and further updates would be shared.

In a post on X, ISRO confirmed that the PSLV-C62 mission had encountered an anomaly during the end of PS3 and that a detailed investigation had been initiated .

The mission was intended to place its payloads into a 512-km Sun-Synchronous Orbit and was the first space launch of 2026, conducted under a commercial contract through NewSpace India Ltd , ISRO’s commercial arm. While the satellites may have reached orbit, they are not believed to be in the intended position, potentially affecting planned Earth observation, disaster monitoring, vegetation studies and commercial experiments .

The setback follows a similar third-stage anomaly during the PSLV-C61 mission launched on May 18, 2025 . Prior to that, the last fully successful PSLV flight was PSLV-C60 on December 30, 2024 . Of the 62 PSLV missions flown since 1993 , the launcher has suffered only three failures one during its debut flight and the two recent consecutive anomalies underscoring its long-standing reputation as the workhorse of ISRO , even as the back-to-back incidents draw attention.

ISRO had constituted an internal failure analysis committee after the PSLV-C61 anomaly, though no detailed report was made public. With another third-stage issue now recorded, there is growing expectation that the findings could be shared or placed before an independent expert committee as part of the review process.

In contrast, ISRO’s heavy-lift launcher LVM-3 , also known as Bahubali , has emerged as the agency’s most reliable launch vehicle in recent years. The rocket has completed two successful missions in the past two months , extending its flawless record across all operational flights and reinforcing confidence ahead of future strategic and human spaceflight missions.

The PSLV-C62 anomaly is expected to carry a significant financial impact . Last year’s PSLV-C61 failure resulted in an estimated loss of around ₹1,255 crore , including the launch vehicle and satellite value. While ISRO has not released official figures for PSLV-C62, industry estimates suggest the combined cost of the launch and payloads could range between ₹500 crore and ₹800 crore , depending on insurance coverage and satellite valuation.

The developments come amid broader concerns within the space sector, including the challenge of retaining specialised engineering talent , as a growing number of graduates opt for opportunities abroad or in the IT sector instead of core aerospace roles. Officials note that while failures are an accepted part of spaceflight, consecutive anomalies warrant closer scrutiny .

Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who has regularly congratulated ISRO after major successes, has not yet issued a public statement on the PSLV-C62 mission. ISRO, meanwhile, is expected to release further updates once the investigation is completed.