ISRO Confirms Third‑Stage Anomaly in PSLV‑C62 Launch

January 12, 2026

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that its PSLV‑C62 mission encountered a performance anomaly in the rocket’s third stage shortly after liftoff on January 12, 2026. The anomaly occurred during the solid‑propelled third stage (PS3) of the four‑stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), prompting the space agency to initiate a detailed data analysis and investigation into the flight disturbance.

Launch and Initial Flight Profile

The PSLV‑C62 rocket was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on schedule at 10:18 am IST. The liftoff marked ISRO’s first space mission of 2026, carrying a primary Earth observation satellite — EOS‑N1 (also known as Anvesha) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with 15 co‑passenger satellites.

According to official statements, the first two stages of the rocket performed nominally, including strap‑on booster separation and ignition of the core stages. However, close to the end of the third stage burn, engineers observed disturbances in the vehicle’s roll rates and a deviation from the intended flight path, triggering concern at Mission Control.

ISRO Response and Ongoing Review

Following the flight anomaly, ISRO took to its official X (formerly Twitter) account to acknowledge the disturbance, stating:

“The PSLV‑C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of the PS3 (third stage). A detailed analysis has been initiated.”

ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan also confirmed that the rocket deviated from its planned trajectory after the third stage, and engineers are now analysing data from the flight to determine the exact cause of the anomaly.

Mission Impact and Context

At this stage, ISRO has neither declared the mission a success nor failure, pending the outcome of the ongoing data review. The anomaly mirrors issues seen in other recent flights where upper‑stage performance played a key role in flight outcome. A detailed probe by a specialized committee is expected to follow — standard practice to ensure lessons are learned and corrective action is taken as needed.