ISRO’s PSLV-C62 Mission Faces Anomaly, Satellites Lost

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) PSLV-C62 mission, launched on January 12, 2025, encountered a significant setback shortly after liftoff from Sriharikota. The mission was intended to deploy the EOS-N1 satellite, along with 15 co-passenger satellites, into orbit. Within minutes of launch, ISRO reported that the mission experienced an anomaly during the third stage of the rocket, known as PS3.

During a televised briefing, ISRO chairman V. Narayanan indicated that while the performance was stable initially, there was a marked increase in “disturbance in the vehicle roll rates” leading to a deviation from the planned trajectory. This uncontrollable spinning of the rocket meant that it could not execute its mission successfully. As of January 16, 2025, ISRO had not released detailed information regarding the cause of this anomaly.

Following the incident, Thailand’s space agency, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), confirmed that the malfunction during the third stage resulted in an attitude-control abnormality, which prevented the deployment of the satellites. GISTDA indicated that both the rocket and its payloads were expected to fall into the southern Indian Ocean, likely burning up upon re-entry.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Missions

The PSLV-C62 mission shares similarities with the earlier PSLV-C61 mission, which took place on May 18, 2025. That mission was also unable to deploy its payloads due to an anomaly in the PS3 stage. During PSLV-C61, ISRO noted a drop in chamber pressure in the third-stage motor case, resulting in mission failure. Both missions demonstrated a pattern of decisive failures during the PS3 stage, with the C62 mission’s defining issue being a “roll rate disturbance.”

After the PSLV-C61 failure, Dr. Narayanan established a Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) to investigate the mishap. This committee is tasked with reconstructing the events leading to the failure and identifying corrective actions necessary for future missions. The FAC includes experts from ISRO and academia, and its findings are submitted to the Indian government.

Despite the establishment of the FAC, the report from the PSLV-C61 mission remains unpublished, a decision that has drawn criticism from independent experts. The lack of transparency around the findings raises concerns, especially in light of the subsequent failure of PSLV-C62. ISRO has not confirmed whether a similar committee has been formed for the C62 mission; however, a brief statement on its website indicates that a “detailed analysis has been initiated.”

Impact on Satellite Payloads

The PSLV-C62 mission’s primary payload, the EOS-N1 surveillance satellite, was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The mission also carried satellites from Thailand, the United Kingdom, Nepal, France, Spain, Brazil, and seven Indian enterprises. This mission marked a notable moment, as it was the first failure of the PSLV while carrying customer satellites from both domestic and international partners.

ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd., facilitated the mission. While GISTDA confirmed that its THEOS-2A satellite was insured, it remains unclear whether the other payloads were covered. Reports suggest that the developers of the Indian private sector satellites would bear the costs of the loss, while India will absorb the expenses associated with the EOS-N1 satellite.

The consequences of the PSLV-C62 anomaly are significant, not only for ISRO but also for the broader international space collaboration landscape. The PSLV has previously encountered failures, but the implications of this recent incident may heighten scrutiny on ISRO’s operational protocols and transparency in addressing technical issues.

Moving forward, the outcomes of the ongoing investigations into both PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 are crucial for restoring confidence in ISRO’s capabilities and ensuring the reliability of future missions.