ISRO Gears Up for PSLV-C62 Launch in January 2026
ISRO Prepares for Upcoming Launch
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is actively preparing for its first launch of the new year. The PSLV-C62 mission is scheduled to take off on January 12, 2026, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. According to an ISRO official, the primary payload for this mission will be EOS-N1, an imaging satellite developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for strategic purposes.
ISRO announced on its social media that the PSLV-C62 mission is set to launch at 10:17 AM IST from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The rocket will also carry a small experimental device known as the Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), developed by a Spanish startup, which will be attached to the PS-4 stage of the rocket. Additionally, sources have confirmed that 17 commercial payloads from startups and research institutions in India, Mauritius, Luxembourg, UAE, Singapore, Europe, and the United States will be included in this flight.
Live Launch Coverage and Registration Details
Space enthusiasts can watch the launch live from the launch view gallery at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. Online registration is available at lvg.shar.gov.in. ISRO advises visitors to prepare necessary identification documents, such as an Aadhaar card or driving license, along with a mobile number and email ID for a smooth registration process. This upcoming mission follows the highly successful completion of the 2025 missions.
On December 24, ISRO successfully launched the LVM3-M6 mission, which placed the Bluebird Block-2 satellite into orbit. This spacecraft, launched by the LVM3 rocket, is the heaviest payload ever placed in low Earth orbit (LEO). Equipped with a massive 223 square meter phased array antenna, it is also the largest commercial communication satellite established in LEO.
LVM3's Proven Track Record
The LVM3 rocket has consistently demonstrated its reliability, having previously launched significant missions such as Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb satellites. The success of the December 24 launch came shortly after the completion of the LVM3-M5/CMS-03 mission, which was successfully concluded on November 2, 2025.