Context:
On January 12, 2026, ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission carrying the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites encountered an anomaly during the PS3 (third stage), similar to the earlier PSLV-C61 failure (May 2025).
Key Highlights:
- Mission Anomaly
- Increased roll rate disturbance near end of PS3 stage.
- Rocket deviated from planned flight path.
- Satellite deployment failed.
- International Impact
- Included payloads from Thailand (GISTDA), U.K., Nepal, France, Spain, Brazil, and Indian firms.
- First PSLV failure involving both Indian and foreign customer satellites.
- Earlier Similar Incident
- PSLV-C61 experienced chamber pressure drop in PS3 motor casing.
- Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) formed.
- Report not publicly released.
- Insurance & Loss
- Thailand’s THEOS-2A satellite insured.
- Several Indian private payloads reportedly uninsured.
- KID Payload
- Re-entry demonstrator transmitted off-nominal data briefly before failure.
- Institutional Mechanism
- Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) investigates mission anomalies.
- Responsible for event reconstruction and corrective recommendations.
- Significance
- Raises questions about transparency and accountability.
- Impacts India’s reputation in the commercial launch market.
- Important for growing private sector participation in space.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- PSLV
- Four-stage launch vehicle (solid-liquid-solid-liquid configuration).
- Used for Sun-synchronous and polar orbit missions.
- Payload
- Satellites or instruments carried by launch vehicle.
- PS3 Stage
- Solid rocket motor stage.
- Difference between insured vs uninsured satellite missions.
Relevant Mains Points:
- GS 3 – Science & Technology
- Reliability of launch vehicles.
- Commercialization of space sector.
- GS 2 – Governance
- Transparency in public sector undertakings.
- Accountability in strategic sectors.
- Economic Dimension
- Impact on India’s global launch services competitiveness.
- Need for robust risk management mechanisms.
- Way Forward
- Public release of investigation reports.
- Strengthen quality assurance systems.
- Improve insurance coverage for private payloads.
- Enhance redundancy in critical rocket stages.
UPSC Relevance:
Prelims – PSLV stages, payload, FAC.
Mains – Space governance, commercialization, transparency in strategic sectors.