ISRO is ready to kick off 2026 with its 101st orbital attempt

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is getting ready for its first mission of the new year—the PSLV-C62. The mission will see its primary payload, the EOS-N1 (Anvesha), launched aboard the Indian space agency's workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), per India Today.

The launch of PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 is scheduled at 10.17 am IST on January 12 from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh. An ISRO official quoted by Moneycontrol said the main payload, EOS-N1, an imaging satellite, is developed for strategic goals by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Additionally, the rocket will carry a small probe device called Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), which was created by a Spanish startup and will be affixed to the PS-4 stage. In fact, sources informed that no less than 17 other commercial payloads from firms and academic institutions across Luxembourg, Singapore, the United States, the UAE, Europe, and, of course, India have been prepared for this mission.

This is all thanks to NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), which is ISRO's commercial arm and has been responsible for marketing the space agency's launch capabilities aboard PSLV, SSLV, and LVM3 launchers to international customers, according to News18. Several international clients have used ISRO's launch services till now; over 137 satellites from other countries have been launched on 5 PSLV, 2 LVM3, and 2 SSLV missions to date.

The upcoming launch is also significant because it will be the PSLV's first flight back into service after the PSLV-C61 mission failed in late 2025. The upcoming launch will be PSLV's first orbital launch of 2026 and ISRO's 101st orbital attempt overall. The C62 mission symbolizes a technical and symbolic revitalization for ISRO's marquee launch vehicle. If PSLV-C62 is successful, it would strengthen India's expanding network of private and international space partnerships and confirm ISRO's dependability in the deployment of medium-sized and small satellites. .

Space enthusiasts will be able to witness the launch of the PSLV C62 mission thanks to arrangements made by ISRO. The launch view gallery at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota allows space enthusiasts to witness the launch firsthand. However, those who are interested must register with ISRO via their website in order to enjoy the launch. Additionally, the launch is set to be broadcast live on television.

Previous mission 

In its previous mission, ISRO's LVM3 rocket launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite for the US-based AST SpaceMobile. The satellite was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on December 24, 2025, at 8:55 AM IST. This mission marked LVM3's 6th operational flight. In fact, the BlueBird Block-2 satellite, the biggest commercial communications satellite to be put in low Earth orbit, was the largest payload that LVM3 has ever launched from Indian soil.

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