PSLV

On this India Today special report, Akshita Nandagopal examines the recent failure of ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission launched from Sriharikota. The bulletin highlights that while the first two stages were successful, a critical pressure drop in the third stage led to 'disturbances in the roll' and a subsequent loss of trajectory. Akshita Nandagopal notes that this follows a similar pattern seen in the PSLV-C61 launch in May 2025. The mission was carrying a DRDO maritime surveillance satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites. Shibu Tripathi, Senior Assistant Editor, joins the discussion to explain that while most payloads were lost, a reentry capsule from a Spanish startup reportedly survived. Despite the setback, the PSLV remains ISRO's workhorse, though back-to-back failures in the third stage have raised concerns regarding manufacturing inconsistencies or micro defects. ISRO is expected to form a committee to investigate the exact cause of the combustion instability.

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.

In this exclusive report, Blue Blocks Montessori School Co-Founder Munira Hussain discusses a groundbreaking achievement by 17 Hyderabad students. The high schoolers have engineered a CubeSat payload set to launch aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission on January 12 at 10:17 AM from Sriharikota. 'Teen minds are literally aiming for space,' as the students, including Grade 10 pupil Tanshree Parthi, collaborated with TakeMe2Space to design the satellite. The project, spanning over two years, involves sensors for temperature, humidity, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. Founder Pawan Goyal explains that the students tested these sensors by attaching the satellite to a drone and flying it at an altitude of half a kilometer to collect data. The payload has received official authorization from IN-SPACe, proving that age is no barrier to innovation.

ISRO's 101st mission encountered a technical glitch during the launch of EOS-09 satellite aboard PSLV-C61. The first two stages of the launch were normal, but a fault occurred in the third stage. The ISRO chief stated that they will analyse what went wrong. Space scientist PK Ghosh commented that while it's an unfortunate incident, it should not be seen as a major setback, emphasising that ISRO has had minimal setbacks compared to other space agencies.

India has launched the Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission using PSLV-C60 rocket. The mission involves two satellites designed to demonstrate orbital docking capability, a crucial technology for future human spaceflights and satellite missions. If successful, India will become the fourth country to achieve space docking technology after the US, Russia, and China. The mission is entirely indigenous and aligns with India's space ambitions.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carried two satellites, each weighing 220 kilograms, and lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in what was described as a flawless launch.

ISRO will launch ESA's Proba 3 mission from Sriharikota on 4 December, employing two spacecraft to study the sun's corona through formation flying and an artificial eclipse.

Speaking about India's first dedicated polarimetry mission, Isro chief S Somanath said that the mission would provide a deeper understanding of black holes, adding that they were the "essence of creation". 

Isro on Monday achieved a successful launch of its first-ever X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite, set to provide valuable insights into celestial objects such as black holes.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) marked the beginning of 2024 with an impressive launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on its 60th flight, carrying the XPoSat mission into space, which aims to study black holes.

Isro chief S Somanath said the spacecraft was injected in the "precise orbit". The Aditya L1 spacecraft has been injected in an elliptical orbit...which is intended very precisely by the PSLV. I want to congratulate the PSLV for such a different mission approach today to put Aditya L1 in the right orbit."

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chief S Somanath visited Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati temple ahead of the Aditya L1 mission (maiden mission to study the Sun) launch on Saturday. The spacecraft will launch aboard the PSLV XL rocket on Saturday at 11:50 am IST on a journey to put Aditya L1 in an elliptical orbit around Earth. The Isro chief interacted with the reporters and talked about the upcoming projects.

Aditya-L1 is India's first mission to study the Sun. The ambitious mission is tentatively scheduled for August 26, as per reports. It will be launched using the PSLV rocket from Sriharikota's Sathish Dhawan Space Centre.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C56) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 6:30 am on Sunday. The rocket was sent into space with seven foreign satellites. This was the 431st foreign satellite launch from India by Isro and fourth dedicated PSLV mission for Singapore government.

The main payload of this mission, DS-SAR satellite, will cater to the imagery needs of various Singapore government agencies and ST Engineering's commercial customers.

Isro chief S Somnath was at the India Today Conclave South 2023 to discuss the space quest.