An Indian rocket launch suffered a setback on Monday after the vehicle lost control shortly after liftoff, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of India’s most reliable launch system. The incident involved the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, commonly known as PSLV, operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The rocket, identified as PSLV C62, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota carrying 16 payloads, including an earth observation satellite and multiple scientific experiments developed by startups and academic institutions. According to ISRO officials, the launch proceeded normally during the early stages of flight.
However, mission control later confirmed that the rocket experienced an unexpected disturbance, causing it to deviate from its planned trajectory. ISRO stated that the anomaly occurred near the end of the third stage of the mission, adding that a detailed investigation is now underway. The space agency did not disclose where the rocket ultimately ended up.
This marks the second failure of the PSLV within eight months, raising concerns about the vehicle’s reliability. Historically, the PSLV has been considered the backbone of India’s space program, boasting a success rate of over 90 per cent across nearly 60 missions.
The PSLV has played a critical role in landmark missions such as Chandrayaan 1 and the Aditya L1 solar observatory. It also supports India’s efforts to expand private participation in space manufacturing and satellite launches.
The latest incident comes at a sensitive time as India seeks to strengthen its position in the global space industry.
