NEW DELHI (Kashmir English): An Indian rocket carrying 16 payloads, including an Earth observation satellite, veered off course shortly after lift-off on Monday, in a fresh setback for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s workhorse launch vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
The failure of the PSLV-C62 mission marks the second disappointment for the dependable rocket in approximately eight months, tarnishing its reputation for reliability, which previously boasted a success rate of over 90% across about 60 missions.
India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre
The rocket launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota island at 10:18 a.m. local time, carrying the EOS-N1 observation satellite and 15 other payloads from various startups and academic institutions.
ISRO’s mission control reported that the rocket performed normally for most of its flight before an unexpected disturbance and deviation from its planned trajectory occurred.
In an official statement, ISRO confirmed, “The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of the PS3 stage. A detailed analysis has been initiated,” without providing further details on the specific cause of the failure or the rocket’s ultimate location.
The PSLV has been a crucial component of India’s space program, historically responsible for launching key missions like Chandrayaan-1 and the Aditya-L1 solar observatory, and is central to India’s efforts to involve private industry in space manufacturing.
