India’s space agency ISRO faced a major setback during the PSLV-C62 mission when a technical glitch disrupted the third stage. Chairman S Somanath confirmed the anomaly, assuring the public that a thorough investigation is underway.
Launched from Sriharikota, the PSLV-C62 was carrying important payloads for earth observation and technology demonstration. The mission progressed smoothly through the first two stages, but as the third stage ignited, telemetry data indicated irregular performance. The stage failed to achieve the planned orbital insertion, impacting the primary satellite deployment.
Despite the hiccup, secondary payloads were successfully placed in orbit, showcasing the rocket’s partial resilience. ISRO’s quick response team is analyzing flight data from ground stations and onboard sensors to pinpoint the root cause. Preliminary reports suggest a possible issue with the liquid engine ignition or structural integrity.
This incident marks a rare blemish for the reliable PSLV series, which has a success rate exceeding 95%. The space community is watching closely as ISRO’s failure analysis committee convenes. Somanath emphasized that such events are learning opportunities that strengthen future missions.
Meanwhile, the spaceport operations remain unaffected, with the next launch schedule intact. ISRO plans to share detailed findings within weeks, maintaining transparency. This glitch underscores the high-stakes precision required in space endeavors, yet India’s space program continues its upward trajectory with over 50 successful launches in recent years.