Newssies

ISRO is scheduled to commence the year 2026 with the PSLV C62 launch on Monday, January 12, at 10:17 AM from the first launchpad at the Sriharikota spaceport. The mission will deploy the advanced earth observation satellite EOS-N1, also known as ‘Anvesha,’ which is designed to enhance India’s surveillance capabilities from space. As per a report in TOI, alongside EOS-N1, the PSLV will carry a total of 18 other satellites, including a European demonstrator satellite and various payloads from Indian and international organizations.

EOS-N1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite developed mainly for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It can detect materials on the ground by capturing data across hundreds of wavelengths, making it a significant asset for national security and surveillance. The satellite is expected to support border security and contribute to applications such as agriculture, urban mapping, and environmental monitoring.

The secondary payloads include Europe’s Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), which involves an experimental re-entry of a small capsule in partnership with a Spanish startup, with a planned splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean. Other payloads consist of cubesats from Indian startups and academic institutions, including OrbitAID’s AayulSAT, CV Raman Global University’s CGUSAT-1, Dhruva Space’s DA-1, Space Kidz India’s SR-2, Assam Don Bosco University’s Lachit-1, Akshath Aerospace’s Solaras-S4, and Dayanand Sagar University’s DSAT-1.

Bengaluru-based startup OrbitAID Aerospace will debut AayulSAT, India’s first satellite refuelling payload designed to extend satellite operational life by enabling in-orbit refuelling and servicing, addressing issues related to space debris and sustainability.

This PSLV C62 mission also marks a return for the PSLV program after the PSLV-C61 mission in May 2025 failed to place the EOS-09 earth observation satellite into its intended sun-synchronous polar orbit. The failure was caused by a technical problem in the rocket’s third stage, specifically a drop in chamber pressure, although the first two stages functioned as expected.