Anomaly Strikes: India's Trusted PSLV Faces Another Setback

An Indian rocket carrying 16 payloads, including an earth surveillance satellite, veered off track post-launch. This incident marks the second disappointment for ISRO's reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in eight months, affecting its esteemed success record.

An Indian rocket experienced an unexpected course deviation during a launch, marking another setback for the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This mishap follows a similar incident eight months ago, challenging the vehicle's over 90% success rate.

The PSLV-C62, carrying the EOS-N1 observation satellite and 15 other payloads from startups and academic institutions, launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. However, the rocket encountered anomalous behavior near the end of its third-stage flight. A detailed probe into the anomaly has been initiated.

The PSLV's historically pivotal role in India's space achievements, including the Chandrayaan-1 and Aditya-L1 missions, underscores the significance of these challenges as India seeks to expand its space industry through private sector involvement.

(With inputs from agencies.)