India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), faced a major setback with its PSLV-C62 mission after the launch failed to achieve its intended objective, raising questions about what exactly went wrong.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), known for its long track record of successful missions, was carrying an earth observation satellite meant for monitoring weather, agriculture, and disaster management. However, soon after liftoff, mission controllers noticed deviations in the rocket’s performance.
What Was the PSLV-C62 Mission?
PSLV-C62 was designed to place an advanced earth observation satellite into a low-Earth orbit. The satellite was expected to provide high-resolution images for environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, and national security.
The mission marked another step in India’s growing space capabilities, especially in remote sensing and data-driven governance.
What Went Wrong?
According to ISRO officials, an anomaly was detected during one of the rocket’s critical flight stages. The vehicle failed to reach the precise orbit required for satellite deployment.
Preliminary analysis suggests a possible issue with stage separation or propulsion performance, which prevented the mission from completing its final orbital insertion.
ISRO has confirmed that a failure analysis committee has been set up to examine telemetry data and identify the root cause.
Why Is This Mission Important?
PSLV is considered the workhorse of ISRO, with more than 50 successful missions. Any failure is taken seriously because the rocket plays a key role in launching both Indian and foreign satellites.
The PSLV-C62 mission was also important for maintaining India’s leadership in affordable satellite launches.
What Happens Next?
ISRO scientists are now reviewing all flight data and hardware performance. Based on the findings, corrective measures will be implemented before the next PSLV launch.
Officials said such setbacks are part of space exploration and help strengthen future missions.
The Bigger Picture
Despite the PSLV-C62 setback, ISRO continues to make rapid progress with ambitious projects like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan, and Aditya-L1. The agency remains committed to improving reliability and mission success rates.
