An Indian rocket carrying 16 payloads, including an Earth observation satellite, went off its planned path shortly after launch on Monday, dealing another blow to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) otherwise reliable launch system.
The incident marked the second failure of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in about eight months. The setback has raised concerns about the rocket’s dependability, even though it has successfully completed more than 90 percent of its nearly 60 missions in the past and has long been considered one of ISRO’s most trusted rockets.
The PSLV-C62 mission lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10:18am local time. It was carrying the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite, along with 15 other small payloads. These additional payloads were developed by startups and universities from India as well as from other countries, highlighting the growing role of private and academic groups in space research.
Soon after launch, the rocket began to deviate from its intended flight path. Engineers monitoring the mission noticed the problem during the early phase of the flight. As a result, the mission could not proceed as planned, and the payloads failed to reach their intended orbit.
ISRO officials said a detailed investigation would be carried out to find the exact cause of the deviation. Experts believe the findings will be important for improving future missions and restoring confidence in the PSLV program. Despite this setback, ISRO continues to be regarded as a major space agency with a strong record of affordable and successful space missions.
The incident comes at a time when India is expanding its space activities, including satellite launches, deep space missions, and cooperation with private companies. The outcome of the investigation is expected to play a key role in shaping upcoming launches and ensuring the safety and reliability of future missions.
