Mechanical Failure Strikes Indian Rocket, 16 Satellites at Risk

India's PSLV-C62 rocket, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 12, encountered a mechanical failure mid-flight, causing the rocket to deviate from its intended path. As a result, there is a high risk that 16 satellites aboard the rocket may be lost in space.

The launch took place at 10:18 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The rocket's first and second stages proceeded without incident, but a malfunction occurred during the third stage. According to ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, the deviation observed in the third stage meant the mission could not continue as planned, with experts indicating that such issues typically result in mission failure.
 

This mission was of particular significance to India, as it carried critical satellites, including:
 

• India’s own Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-N1.
   

• A cutting-edge surveillance satellite, 'Anvesha', developed by DRDO.

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• Seven satellites from the Hyderabad-based startup 'Dhruv Space'.

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• Satellites from Brazil, Nepal, and the United Kingdom.
   

If the mission fails, the loss or destruction of these valuable satellites will be a major setback for ISRO and the involved startups. This incident marks a significant blow to ISRO's reputation, especially after a similar failure in 2025, attributed to the third-stage malfunction. Despite the absence of a public report on the previous failure, this latest setback casts doubt on the reliability of one of India’s most trusted rocket systems and its ambitions in the commercial space sector.