ISRO's PSLV-C62 Mission Fails: 16 Satellites Lost Due to Third Stage Anomaly

• India's first space launch of 2026, PSLV-C62, failed on January 12 due to a critical technical malfunction in the third stage.
• The rocket lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, but an anomaly developed eight minutes into flight, forcing it off trajectory.
• ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed the mission could not be completed as the third stage (PS3) failed to deliver required thrust due to a chamber pressure drop.
• The primary payload, DRDO's strategic surveillance satellite Anvesha, and 15 other satellites are believed to be lost, expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
• This marks the second consecutive failure involving PSLV's third stage, casting uncertainty over India's 2026 space launch schedule.

Why It Matters: ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission failed, losing 16 satellites due to a third-stage malfunction, prompting an investigation.