ISRO Launches PSLV-C62 with Anvesha Satellite to Open 2026 Space Calendar
ISRO Launches PSLV-C62 with Anvesha Satellite to Open 2026 Space Calendar
ISRO launches PSLV-C62 from Sriharikota to deploy EOS-N1 Anvesha and 14 co-passengers, marking India's first space launch of 2026 with a re-entry capsule test.
India is kicking off its 2026 space calendar with the PSLV-C62 mission, set to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Monday. The 260-tonne PSLV-C62 rocket will carry the EOS-N1 satellite, better known as Anvesha, into a polar sun-synchronous orbit just a few hundred kilometres above Earth, followed by the deployment of 14 co-passenger satellites belonging to domestic and international customers. The mission, coordinated through NewSpace India Ltd, marks a significant milestone after the previous year’s aborted flight.
The mission profile envisions a sequential deployment: the main Earth observation satellite will go up first, with the remaining co-passengers deployed within 17 minutes of liftoff. More than two hours after launch, scientists will restart the rocket’s fourth stage to demonstrate de-boost and re-entry of the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator capsule, which weighs about 25 kilograms. The capsule and the PS4 stage are expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the South Pacific Ocean, showcasing critical in-orbit technology.
Countdown for PSLV-C62 began on Sunday afternoon, signaling renewed confidence in India’s most trusted launch vehicle. Officials noted a target launch time of around 10:18 a.m. on Monday, with ISRO pressing ahead after last year’s technical observations that led to an abort. The mission underscores India’s growing capabilities in space, including commercial partnerships and international collaborations, as it begins 2026 with a bold demonstration of both orbital deployment and re-entry technology.
