Image used is a symbolic, AI-generated visual representation for illustrative purposes only. It does not depict actual footage, real-time mission data, or exact events related to the ISRO PSLV-C62 launch.
Sriharikota, January 13,2026: India’s latest strategic space mission suffered a setback on Monday after the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C62, failed to place a defence surveillance satellite into its intended orbit.
According to the Indian Space Research Organisation, the mission was aimed at deploying Anvesha (EOS-N1), a hyperspectral Earth observation satellite developed for defence-related applications. The rocket was also carrying 15 small satellites for Indian and international customers.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the launch vehicle encountered a disturbance towards the end of the third stage of flight, causing it to deviate from its planned trajectory. As a result, the primary satellite could not be successfully injected into orbit. He added that mission data would be analysed in detail before firm conclusions are drawn.
Anvesha (EOS-N1) was designed to strengthen surveillance capabilities by capturing information across hundreds of narrow spectral bands, allowing the detection of camouflaged objects and materials that conventional imaging satellites often miss. The setback is expected to delay planned enhancements to India’s space-based reconnaissance capability.
The PSLV-DL variant lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marking the fifth flight of this configuration. While PSLV has long been considered ISRO’s most dependable launch vehicle, the latest failure adds to recent challenges and underscores the agency’s focus on reviewing systems and improving mission reliability.
