Introduction:
ISRO’s PSLV-C62 EOS-N1 Anvesha mission successfully lifted off from the First Launch Pad at Sriharikota at around 10:18 am IST on 12 January 2026, marking India’s first space mission of the year. The rocket has injected the primary EOS-N1 satellite and multiple co-passenger payloads into their planned Sun-synchronous orbit, while a key KID re-entry experiment is scheduled in the next phase of the flight.
PSLV-C62 launch details and mission profile
The 44.4-metre-tall PSLV-C62, flying in the DL configuration with two solid strap-on boosters, lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, at about 10:18:30 am IST. This is the 64th flight of PSLV and the first launch of 2026 for India’s space programme, seen as a crucial “return to flight” after the PSLV-C61 anomaly in May 2025.
According to ISRO’s mission brochure and official briefings, PSLV-C62 is a commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) carrying the primary EOS-N1 satellite along with 15 co-passenger payloads for domestic and international customers. Of these, EOS-N1 and 14 co-passenger satellites are placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit at about 505 km altitude and ~97.5° inclination, while the **KID capsule is assigned a separate re-entry trajectory.
ISRO has confirmed that the primary satellite deployment phase has been completed successfully, with EOS-N1 and the co-passenger satellites injected into their planned orbit. The mission opened India’s 2026 space calendar on a positive note, restoring confidence in PSLV as ISRO’s workhorse launcher.
For regions like Jammu & Kashmir, the enhanced Earth-observation capability is expected to strengthen border surveillance, infrastructure mapping and disaster-response planning, especially in sensitive and mountainous terrain.
What is EOS-N1 ‘Anvesha’ and why it matters
EOS-N1, nicknamed “Anvesha”, is a hyperspectral Earth-observation satellite developed primarily by DRDO, with ISRO support. Hyperspectral sensors capture data in hundreds of narrow wavelength bands, allowing analysts to identify materials, vegetation health, soil conditions and man-made structures with high precision.
Multiple official and media briefings describe EOS-N1 as a strategic surveillance asset, intended to bolster national security, border monitoring and maritime domain awareness, while also supporting civilian uses such as agriculture, forestry, water management, urban planning and environmental monitoring.
For India’s border states—including J&K and Ladakh—such a satellite can provide more frequent, higher-resolution imaging of snow cover, troop movement corridors, border infrastructure and landslide-prone slopes. This will help planners and security agencies respond faster to both strategic threats and natural hazards.
KID re-entry capsule – the next big step in the mission
Beyond the primary satellite launch, PSLV-C62 includes a high-profile experimental payload: the Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), a 25-kg uncrewed re-entry capsule from Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm, supported by ESA.
According to ISRO’s published mission profile, after EOS-N1 and the 14 co-passenger satellites are injected into orbit, the PS4 upper stage will be restarted for a de-boost manoeuvre, placing the stage and KID on a controlled re-entry trajectory. The capsule is planned to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in a designated zone in the South Pacific Ocean, transmitting data on heating and structural loads during descent.
As of the time of writing, ISRO and mission partners have confirmed the successful launch and orbital deployment phase, while the PS4 de-boost and KID splashdown remain part of the upcoming/ongoing sequence as per the pre-announced timeline (roughly 1.5–2 hours after liftoff).
If fully successful, the experiment will showcase controlled de-orbiting of PSLV’s upper stage and data from a small re-entry capsule—technologies that are critical for space debris mitigation and future reusable systems.
Key Highlights
• ISRO’s PSLV-C62 lifted off from Sriharikota at ~10:18 am IST on 12 January 2026, marking India’s first space mission of 2026 and the 64th PSLV flight.
• The rocket has successfully injected EOS-N1 ‘Anvesha’ and 14 co-passenger satellites into a 505 km Sun-synchronous orbit, completing the primary launch objective.
• In the next phase, the PS4 stage will be re-ignited to de-boost and release Spain’s 25-kg KID re-entry capsule, targeting a planned splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean as a technology demonstrator.
Conclusion
With the successful deployment of EOS-N1 ‘Anvesha’ and multiple co-passenger satellites, PSLV-C62 has given ISRO a strong and symbolic start to the 2026 space calendar. The mission strengthens India’s strategic Earth-observation capabilities while showcasing its growing role in launching foreign payloads.
All eyes will now be on the KID re-entry experiment, which, if executed as planned, will mark another milestone for India in controlled de-orbiting and atmospheric re-entry technologies. Stay tuned to KittoNews for official post-mission updates and detailed analysis once ISRO releases more data.
FAQs
A1: Yes. ISRO and multiple agencies have confirmed that PSLV-C62 successfully lifted off from Sriharikota and injected EOS-N1 and the co-passenger satellites into their intended Sun-synchronous orbit, completing the primary mission objective.
A2: As per ISRO’s mission plan, the PS4 upper stage will be re-started after satellite deployment to de-boost and release the 25-kg KID capsule on a controlled re-entry path, with a planned splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean. At the time of this report, this sequence is scheduled/ongoing and not yet officially reported as completed by ISRO.
