Ajit Doval Meets VSSC Director Following PSLV Mission Failures

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) last week to discuss the challenges faced by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) programme, particularly following the January 12 failure of the PSLV-C62 mission. During the visit, he held discussions with VSSC Director A. Rajarajan and the Deputy Directors, emphasizing the importance of addressing recent setbacks in this critical area of India’s space capabilities.

The significance of Doval’s visit cannot be overstated, as it comes in the wake of consecutive failures of PSLV missions, including incidents on May 18, 2025, and again on January 12, 2026. Historically, the PSLV has been celebrated as the “trusted workhorse” of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), known for its impressive success rate. VSSC serves as the nodal facility of ISRO responsible for launch vehicles, making the discussions particularly pertinent.

Following the PSLV-C61 launch, ISRO communicated via social media platform X that “PSLV-C61 performance was normal till 2nd stage. Due to an observation in the 3rd stage, the mission could not be accomplished.” The findings from the Failure Analysis Committee for this mission remain undisclosed, raising concerns about the operational integrity of the PSLV series.

The PSLV-C62 mission was designed to carry a total of 16 satellites, with the EOS-N1 satellite identified as the primary payload. Reports suggest that an anomaly occurred during the final phase of the PS3 stage, which has prompted ISRO to initiate a detailed analysis to identify the underlying issues affecting these launches.

Given the historical reliability of the PSLV program, the recent failures have garnered significant attention from both government officials and the public. As the Indian space sector continues to grow, it will be crucial for ISRO to address these challenges swiftly to maintain confidence in its launch capabilities. The outcomes of the analyses conducted post-launch will be vital in determining the future trajectory of the PSLV missions.

Doval’s engagement with the VSSC team signals a proactive approach by the government to ensure that India’s space missions remain on track, reinforcing the need for rigorous assessments and improvements in the face of technical hurdles.