Anvesha, officially designated EOS-N1, is an advanced hyperspectral Earth-observation satellite developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is scheduled for launch on 12 January 2026 aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
This mission marks the 64th flight of the reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and underscores India’s expanding capabilities in space-based surveillance and remote sensing.
Unlike traditional satellites that capture only a few colour bands, Anvesha’s hyperspectral imaging sensors collect data across hundreds of narrow light wavelengths.
This enables it to precisely detect and distinguish between different materials and surface features on Earth. As a result, the satellite is expected to play a crucial role in strategic defence applications such as border monitoring and reconnaissance. It also supports civilian uses including agricultural monitoring, terrain analysis, urban planning, disaster response, and environmental assessment.
By enhancing India’s remote-sensing infrastructure, Anvesha highlights the nation’s growing expertise in cutting-edge space technology and contributes to both security and sustainable development goals.
A setback for India's space programme as ISRO's first launch of 2026, the PSLV-C62 mission, has encountered a significant failure. While the liftoff was successful, an anomaly was detected during the third stage (PS3) burn, causing a flight deviation. The mission's primary payload, the 'Anvesha' earth observation satellite developed by the DRDO, is now feared to be lost. In addition to Anvesha, the mission was carrying 15 other satellites from multiple countries, including the UK, Nepal, and Brazil, as well as payloads from Indian start-ups like Dhruva Space and Orbit Aid. This incident raises concerns as it follows the failure of the PSLV-C61 mission in May 2025, which was also lost due to technical issues. A detailed analysis of the PSLV-C62 failure has been initiated by the space agency.
India's space programme marks a major milestone with the first launch of 2026, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully sends the PSLV-C62 rocket into orbit from Sriharikota. This mission represents a significant comeback for the PSLV, described as ISRO's 'trusted workhorse', following an aborted mission in 2025. The primary payload is Anvesha, a powerful surveillance satellite designed to track troop movements, terrain changes, and crop patterns with high precision. The broadcast captures the 'majestic lift off', calling it a 'roaring 2026 comeback for the hero PSLV rocket, reaffirming India's rising space dominance'. The launch also includes several other smaller satellites, making it a 'desi-videshi combo space launch' and showcasing India's growing capabilities in space exploration and satellite deployment.
India celebrates the successful launch of PSLV-C62, marking ISRO’s first desi-videshi satellite collaboration of 2026. The vehicle carries 17 satellites, with Anvesha, the advanced Earth observation satellite, described as ‘India’s Hawkeye in space’ for its surveillance capabilities in tracking troop movements, terrain changes, and crop patterns with high accuracy. The transcript highlights that ‘the important aspect the first and primary satellite here is something called as an earth observation satellite which is called Anvesha,’ designed and manufactured by DRDO. The launch underscores ISRO’s rising space dominance, using the PSLV workhorse from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The bulletin also notes piggyback satellites such as the KID mission, broadening international cooperation in space research and technology.
In this special report, India Today covers ISRO's first major space mission of 2026, a 'desi-videshi' liftoff from Sriharikota. The PSLV rocket successfully launched 17 satellites, with the primary payload being Anvesha, an advanced Earth Observation Satellite developed by the DRDO. According to India Today's Pramod Madhav, this satellite is a 'very important Hawkeye that will help us in maintaining our borders, help us in need of any kind of assistance during any kind of calamity or disaster and such.' The mission also deployed 16 other satellites, including the KID mission, a re-entry vehicle demonstrator for a Spanish startup. The launch marks a significant step for India's space programme, enhancing its surveillance capabilities and fostering international space collaboration.
India's space programme begins 2026 with a significant milestone as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launches its PSLV-C62 mission. This launch represents a 'Desi-Videshi combo,' carrying both Indian and international payloads. The primary payload is the 'Anvesha' satellite, described in the report as 'India's hawk eye in the space, a powerful surveillance satellite tracking troop movement, terrain changes, and crop patterns with pinpoint accuracy.' The launch, which took place at 10:18 am, marks a roaring comeback for the PSLV rocket, reaffirming its status as ISRO's trusted workhorse. The bulletin highlights the PSLV's legacy, noting its crucial role in historic missions like Chandrayaan-1, the Mars Orbiter Mission, and the Aditya-L1 solar mission, reinforcing India's growing dominance in space exploration.
