The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) latest launch mission encountered a technical hurdle on Monday. The PSLV-C62 rocket, which lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, faced an anomaly during the final phase of its third stage operation.
Launch Details and Payload
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) blasted off on January 12, 2026, carrying a primary earth observation satellite along with 14 co-passenger satellites. The mission aimed to deploy these spacecraft into their intended orbits, continuing India's ambitious space program.
The Anomaly and ISRO's Response
The space agency confirmed the issue shortly after the launch. An anomaly was detected at the end of the PS3 (third stage) phase of the rocket's flight. ISRO promptly announced the incident on its official social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), stating, "The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated."
This statement indicates that while the launch proceeded initially, a problem arose during a critical phase of the ascent. The nature of the anomaly—whether it related to performance, propulsion, or staging—has not been disclosed publicly. The immediate initiation of a detailed analysis is standard procedure for ISRO to diagnose the root cause and implement corrective measures for future missions.
Implications and Next Steps
Launch anomalies, while setbacks, are not uncommon in the complex field of rocketry. ISRO has a strong track record of investigating such events thoroughly and bouncing back. The primary focus now is on the detailed analysis promised by the agency. The findings will be crucial for understanding the event's impact on the current mission's objectives and for ensuring the reliability of the workhorse PSLV rocket for subsequent launches.
The mission's success in delivering its payloads to the correct orbit following the anomaly remains to be fully assessed. The space community and the nation will await further updates from ISRO as the investigation progresses. This event underscores the inherent challenges of space exploration and the importance of robust engineering and swift problem-solving.
