An Indian rocket carrying 16 payloads, including an earth observation satellite, went off course shortly after liftoff on Monday.
The PSLV-C62 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:18 a.m. local time, carrying the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 other payloads. These included experiments from startups and academic institutions in India and abroad.
ISRO’s mission control said the Indian rocket performed normally during most of the flight. However, it experienced an unexpected deviation near the end of the PS3 stage. A detailed investigation has begun.
“The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated,” ISRO said in a statement. The agency did not reveal the exact cause or the rocket’s final position.
This incident marks the second setback for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in eight months. The PSLV has been a workhorse for ISRO, with a success rate above 90% in nearly 60 missions.
The rocket has played a key role in India’s space program, launching major missions such as Chandrayaan-1 and the Aditya-L1 solar observatory. It also supports India’s effort to expand private participation in space manufacturing.
Analysts say the latest incident is a reminder of the challenges in space launches, even for vehicles with strong track records. ISRO continues to stress safety and thorough investigation to ensure future missions succeed.
Despite the setback, the Indian rocket program remains central to India’s ambitions in space technology. Officials are expected to release further updates once the analysis is complete.
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