Core Issue
ISRO’s highly reliable PSLV rocket has experienced an unprecedented series of back-to-back failures with its C61 (May 2025) and C62 (January 2026) missions. Both incidents involved anomalies in the third stage, leading to the loss of critical national security satellites and raising serious questions about the reliability of ISRO’s long-standing workhorse.
Key Points
- Third-Stage Malfunctions: Both failures were attributed to issues within the PSLV’s third stage (PS3). While the C61 mission pointed to a faulty nozzle that was reportedly rectified, the C62 failure indicates a new, distinct issue in the same stage, despite unusually rigorous pre-launch testing.
- Internal Morale and Processes: The consecutive failures, occurring after extensive review processes (seven Mission Readiness Reviews for C62 versus the usual three), have demonstrably impacted morale within ISRO and prompted an internal re-evaluation of established operational procedures.
- Vendor Scrutiny: Although ISRO has a long history of reliance on private suppliers, these failures will likely lead to heightened scrutiny of vendor quality control and the performance of individual components, potentially resulting in action being taken against underperforming suppliers.
- Strain on Resources: ISRO is currently managing multiple ambitious projects concurrently, including Gaganyaan, follow-up Mars and Moon missions, a space station, and Venus exploration. This extensive workload raises concerns about the potential stretching of manpower and organizational resources.
- Reputational and Commercial Impact: The repeated failures significantly dent PSLV’s image of reliability, which is crucial for commercial contracts. This concern is amplified as the first private-sector built PSLV is scheduled for launch soon, potentially impacting customer confidence and future collaborations.
Why It Matters
These failures represent a critical juncture for ISRO, particularly given the PSLV’s historical reliability and India’s growing ambitions in space. Beyond the immediate loss of national security assets, the incidents could undermine commercial trust, delay future missions, and complicate the planned transfer of PSLV production to private industry, thus impacting India’s standing in the global space economy.
Way Forward
ISRO must promptly release comprehensive failure analysis reports, ensuring transparency to the public and its commercial partners. Based on these analyses, specific and robust corrective measures, targeting hardware, software, or mechanical issues, must be developed and rigorously implemented. Additionally, the agency should critically re-evaluate its review processes, consider increased redundancy where necessary, and strategically manage its burgeoning project portfolio to mitigate resource strain and restore unwavering confidence in its capabilities.