ISRO's PSLV-C62 Mission Fails to Launch 16 Satellites, Including LACHIT-1

The PSLV-C62 mission by ISRO faced a significant setback as it failed to launch 16 satellites, including the Northeast's first satellite, LACHIT-1. An anomaly during the third stage of the rocket's flight path led to this failure. The mission was expected to mark a milestone in space technology for the Northeast region. ISRO is currently conducting a detailed analysis to determine the cause of the failure. This incident marks the second consecutive failure for the PSLV series, raising concerns about future missions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 12, 2026, 15:55 IST

Mission Overview

Sriharikota, Jan 12: The PSLV-C62 rocket, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), faced a significant setback on Monday as it failed to successfully launch 16 satellites, among them LACHIT-1, the first satellite from the Northeast region.

Details of the Anomaly

According to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, the rocket experienced disturbances during its third stage (PS3), which caused it to deviate from its intended trajectory while the strap-on motors were engaged.

A thorough investigation is currently underway to determine the root cause of this anomaly.

ISRO confirmed the mission's failure via social media, stating, “The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of PS3. A detailed analysis has been initiated.”

Impact of the Failure

Due to this failure, the mission was unable to place the satellites into their designated orbits, resulting in the loss of all 16 satellites, including LACHIT-1.

LACHIT-1, named after the esteemed Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, was designed to symbolize regional pride and technological advancement. If successfully launched, it would have allowed global amateur radio operators to engage in satellite-based communication and experimentation.

This mission was anticipated to mark a significant milestone for the Northeast in the field of space technology, but the failure has delayed this achievement.

Official Statements

During a brief press conference, Narayanan, who also serves as Secretary of the Department of Space, stated, “Today we attempted the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission, but it did not follow the expected flight path. That is the current information available.”

He added, “We are analyzing data from all ground stations, and once the analysis is complete, we will provide further updates.”

Recent Failures

This incident marks the second consecutive failure for the PSLV series, following the unsuccessful PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission in May 2025.

Earlier that day, after a 22.5-hour countdown, the 44.4-meter tall rocket launched as planned at 10:18 AM from the spaceport.

The mission aimed to deploy a primary Earth Observation satellite along with several co-passenger satellites into a 512-km Sun-Synchronous Orbit, with a flight duration of approximately 17 minutes.

The automatic launch sequence commenced after receiving approval from the mission director, with ISRO scientists providing real-time updates during the rocket's ascent. The initial phases of the flight went according to plan.

However, shortly after the ignition of the third stage, a tense silence enveloped the Mission Control Centre.

Narayanan explained, “The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle with two solid and two liquid stages. The vehicle's performance was as expected until the end of the third stage. Near the conclusion of this stage, we noticed increased disturbances, leading to a deviation in the flight path.”