PSLV-C62 setback: 15 satellites lost, KID survives

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C62) mission faced a major setback on Monday after an anomaly during the rocket’s third stage prevented most onboard satellites from reaching their intended orbit. The mission, EOS-N1, was launched at 10.18 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The 44.4-metre-tall, four-stage PSLV was tasked with deploying a primary Earth Observation satellite along with 15 co-passenger satellites into a 512-kilometre Sun-Synchronous Orbit. Initial stages of the launch progressed normally, with real-time updates shared as the vehicle ascended. However, soon after the ignition of the third stage, deviations in the flight path were detected.

As a result, 15 of the 16 satellites onboard could not be placed into the designated orbit. This marks the second consecutive setback for ISRO’s PSLV programme, following a similar failure in May 2025 linked to a motor pressure issue.

Despite the anomaly, one satellite, Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID), developed by Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm, managed to separate from the launch vehicle. The small re-entry vehicle prototype reportedly activated successfully and transmitted data, offering a rare positive outcome from the mission.

The lost payloads included DRDO’s Anvesha surveillance satellite, AayulSAT, India’s first in-orbit fuelling experiment, CGUSAT, a student-built satellite for emergency communication, and a jointly developed Earth Observation satellite by Thailand and the United Kingdom.

ISRO has confirmed that a detailed analysis is underway to determine the cause of the third-stage malfunction. Officials have indicated that comprehensive findings will be shared after data from all ground stations is reviewed. Experts note that while the incident is a setback, such failures are part of the learning curve in complex space missions.