Rare Survival After an Indian Launch Failure
In an unusual post-launch outcome, a small foreign satellite managed to briefly operate and transmit data despite the failure of Indian Space Research Organisation ’s PSLV-C62 mission.
While most payloads were declared lost due to a malfunction during the rocket’s third stage, a football-sized Spanish capsule unexpectedly separated from the launch vehicle and communicated with Earth for a short duration, offering valuable technical insights.
PSLV-C62 Anomaly and Mission Setback
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C62) encountered a disturbance near the end of its third-stage burn , leading to deviation from the intended flight path. As a result, the mission failed to place 16 satellites into the planned sun-synchronous orbit .
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed that the anomaly disrupted the mission sequence, resulting in the presumed loss of all onboard payloads, including the primary Earth observation satellite EOS-N1 (Anvesha) .
Kestrel Initial Demonstrator’s Unexpected Transmission
Contrary to early assessments, the Spanish capsule Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) survived the breakup sequence. Developed by the startup Orbital Paradigm , the 25-kg satellite separated from the rocket’s fourth stage “against all odds.”
The capsule successfully powered on and transmitted telemetry data for about three minutes before contact was lost. According to the company, the satellite recorded peak deceleration of nearly 28g , along with internal temperature and thermal performance data—information rarely obtained during launch-failure scenarios.
Purpose and Technical Relevance of KID
KID was designed as a re-entry technology demonstrator , intended to test controlled atmospheric re-entry and splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean . The mission was developed in collaboration with French partner RIDE .
Although it remains unconfirmed whether the capsule ultimately disintegrated or splashed down intact, Orbital Paradigm has described the brief data transmission as a partial technical success , validating aspects of its re-entry system design.
Important Facts for Exams
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PSLV is India’s primary launch vehicle for polar and sun-synchronous orbits
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Sun-synchronous orbit enables satellites to pass over the same location at the same local solar time
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Re-entry demonstrator missions test heat shielding and deceleration dynamics
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Small satellites offer low-cost platforms for experimental and reusable space technologies
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Launch failures can still yield valuable engineering data
Implications for Future Space Missions
The unexpected survival of KID has provided Orbital Paradigm with rare real-world data under extreme launch-failure conditions , potentially accelerating its Kestrel programme . A detailed technical report is expected.
For ISRO, the incident highlights both the inherent risks of spaceflight and the increasing resilience of modern small-satellite systems
Month: Current Affairs - January 14, 2026
Category: Space Missions | ISRO