TL;DR
India’s PSLV-DL booster experienced a third-stage anomaly on the PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 commercial launch, preventing the vehicle from reaching its intended orbit and resulting in the loss of 14 of 15 payloads. One experimental payload, the KID reentry capsule from Orbital Paradigm, survived and transmitted telemetry during a violent, off-nominal descent; ISRO has opened an investigation.
What happened
India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 mission using the PSLV-DL variant, carrying 15 commercial payloads. During ascent the rocket’s third stage suffered an anomaly that produced a disturbance and a deviation from the planned flight path, according to ISRO director V. Narayanan. The vehicle failed to reach its target orbit and 14 payloads were lost; among the destroyed satellites were Theos-2, an Earth-observation craft developed by the UK and Thailand, and AyulSat, a refueling-in-space demonstrator. One payload, the KID capsule from Orbital Paradigm, reentered attached to the rocket’s fourth stage, experienced a much steeper reentry angle than planned (reported around −20° versus an expected −5°), endured about Mach 20 and roughly 28 g, and still transmitted around 190 seconds of telemetry. Initial telemetry indicated internal payload temperatures of about 15–30°C, but customer data did not reach its intended recipients. ISRO has begun an investigation into the third-stage failure; this follows a previous PSLV third-stage problem on PSLV-C61 in May 2025.
Why it matters
- A second consecutive failure tied to PSLV third-stage anomalies raises questions about the launcher’s short-term reliability for commercial customers.
- The loss includes international payloads and a refueling demonstration, affecting partner nations and commercial operators.
- The partial survival of the KID capsule shows some capability for reentry hardware to function beyond design limits, informing future recovery work.
- ISRO’s ongoing investigation and any corrective actions will be closely watched by launch customers and partners given India’s role in the commercial launch market and its broader space ambitions.
Key facts
- Mission: PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1, flown on the PSLV-DL variant which uses two external boosters.
- Payloads: 15 onboard; 14 were lost when the mission failed to reach intended orbit.
- Notable lost payloads: Theos-2 (UK–Thailand Earth-observation satellite) and AyulSat (in-space refueling demonstration).
- Survivor: KID capsule from Orbital Paradigm returned to Earth coupled with the rocket’s fourth stage and sent telemetry.
- KID reentry details reported by the company: reentry angle ~−20° (nominal ~−5°), reentry speed near Mach 20, peak load ~28 g.
- KID transmitted about 190 seconds of telemetry; onboard payload temperatures during descent were reported between 15°C and 30°C.
- Orbital Paradigm said the capsule met 4 of 5 mission milestones despite off-nominal conditions, but it did not deliver customer data.
- ISRO director V. Narayanan acknowledged a disturbance in the rocket’s third stage and a subsequent flight-path deviation.
- PSLV record context: the launcher series has flown since 1993, with 64 flights and 58 successes to date; PSLV-C61 in May 2025 also experienced a third-stage failure.
What to watch next
- Results of ISRO’s formal investigation into the third-stage anomaly and any identified root cause.
- Orbital Paradigm’s full analysis of KID’s off-nominal reentry and its implications for commercial return-to-Earth services.
- Whether ISRO will announce hardware or procedural changes for upcoming PSLV flights and how commercial customers react (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- PSLV: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, an expendable medium-lift launcher developed by ISRO used for deploying satellites to various orbits.
- Third stage: The third propulsion segment of a multi-stage rocket that ignites after earlier stages separate, responsible for providing velocity and trajectory adjustments toward orbital insertion.
- Telemetry: Data transmitted from a spacecraft or instrument back to ground stations, used to monitor systems, performance, and environmental conditions during a mission.
- Reentry: The process by which an object returns from space into a planet’s atmosphere, exposing it to aerodynamic heating and deceleration forces.
Reader FAQ
How many payloads were lost in the PSLV-C62 mission?
14 of the 15 payloads on the mission were lost.
Did any payload survive the failure?
Yes. The KID capsule from Orbital Paradigm survived reentry and transmitted telemetry, though it did not deliver customer data.
What caused the mission failure?
ISRO reported a disturbance in the rocket’s third stage and a deviation in flight path; a formal investigation has been opened.
Was Theos-2 lost?
Yes. Theos-2, the UK–Thailand Earth-observation satellite, was among the payloads lost.
SCIENCE India’s flagship PSLV rocket fails for the second time in a row One payload out of fifteen survived and sent home some useful data Simon Sharwood Wed 14 Jan 2026 // 04:35 UTC…
Sources
- India’s flagship PSLV rocket fails for the second time in a row
- India's PSLV suffers second consecutive launch failure, 16 …
- Indian PSLV rocket apparently fails for 2nd launch in a row
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