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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C62) rocket on Monday. This will place the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) along with 14 co-passenger satellites into orbit, marking the space agency’s first mission of 2026.
This marks the 64th launch of the PSLV and will carry an Earth observation satellite named Anvesha (EOS-N1) into a polar sun-synchronised orbit at least a hundred kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
ISRO on Sunday commenced a 22.5 hour countdown for the launch, which is being undertaken by NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm. The co-passenger satellites belong to both domestic and international customers.
The PSLV-C62 rocket, with a lift-off mass of 260 tonnes, was scheduled to lift off at 10.18 am today, January 12, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
“Yes, the countdown started at 12.48 pm yesterday. The duration was 22 hours and 30 minutes. Launch is at 10.18 hrs today,” ISRO sources told PTI.
Under the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission, the rocket will first deploy the Earth Observation Satellite built by Thailand and the United Kingdom, followed by the separation of 13 other co-passenger satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit around 17 minutes after lift-off.
More than two hours after launch, ISRO scientists will carry out the separation of the fourth stage (PS4) of the rocket and demonstrate the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID) capsule, a 25-kg payload developed by a Spanish start-up.
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According to ISRO, scientists will restart the fourth stage of the rocket to de-boost it and place the KID capsule on a re-entry trajectory. Following separation, both the PS4 stage and the KID capsule are expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and make a splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean.
The PSLV has completed 63 missions so far, including Chandrayaan-1, the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), and Aditya-L1.
The previous PSLV launch — PSLV-C61/EOS-09 on May 18, 2025 — could not be completed due to an observation in the third stage of the rocket.
The PSLV-C62 rocket, with a lift-off mass of 260 tonnes, was scheduled to lift off at 10.18 am today, January 12, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Story continues below this ad
“Yes, the countdown started at 12.48 pm yesterday. The duration was 22 hours and 30 minutes. Launch is at 10.18 hrs today,” ISRO sources told PTI.
Under the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission, the rocket will first deploy the Earth Observation Satellite built by Thailand and the United Kingdom, followed by the separation of 13 other co-passenger satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit around 17 minutes after lift-off.
More than two hours after launch, ISRO scientists will carry out the separation of the fourth stage (PS4) of the rocket and demonstrate the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID) capsule, a 25-kg payload developed by a Spanish start-up.
According to ISRO, scientists will restart the fourth stage of the rocket to de-boost it and place the KID capsule on a re-entry trajectory. Following separation, both the PS4 stage and the KID capsule are expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and make a splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean.
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The PSLV has completed 63 missions so far, including Chandrayaan-1, the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and Aditya-L1.
The previous PSLV launch — PSLV-C61/EOS-09 on May 18, 2025, could not be completed due to an observation in the third stage of the rocket.
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