Failure of ISRO’s PSLV rocket January 2026
ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission failed on January 12, 2026, shortly after liftoff from Sriharikota due to a third-stage anomaly. This marked the second consecutive PSLV third-stage failure, following the PSLV-C61 mishap in May 2025.
The PSLV-C62 launched at 10:18 AM IST carrying DRDO’s Anvesha surveillance satellite and 15 others from Indian startups, Nepal, and Spain. Initial stages performed nominally, but a critical drop in third-stage chamber pressure caused the rocket to deviate from its path, roll uncontrollably, and fail to achieve orbit around eight minutes into flight.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the third-stage (PS3) thrust loss in a post-failure briefing, noting ongoing data analysis. The anomaly mirrors the prior PSLV-C61 issue, with speculation on nozzle control or casing problems, though no root cause has been publicly detailed.
All 16 payloads are feared lost, raising concerns over PSLV reliability despite its 94% historical success rate. ISRO has initiated a failure analysis, fueling scrutiny amid India’s Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan ambitions.
