NEW DELHI — India’s space ambitions suffered a fresh jolt on Monday as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported an anomaly during the launch of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, compounding an uneasy moment for New Delhi amid diplomatic ripples in Europe following Germany’s announcement of visa-free transit access for Indian travelers, according to NDTV.
The PSLV-C62 mission, ISRO’s 64th flight of the workhorse rocket, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10:18 a.m., carrying the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite along with 15 others, including payloads from foreign partners and Indian private startups. While the rocket’s first and second stages performed as planned, ISRO confirmed a deviation during the critical third stage that prevented the mission from following its expected trajectory.
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan said data from the flight was under review and stopped short of declaring the mission a failure. Still, any third-stage anomaly on the PSLV has historically resulted in the loss of the payload, raising concerns that all 16 satellites may have been lost.
The setback comes as India navigates heightened international scrutiny following Germany’s recent decision to allow visa free transit for Indian passport holders, a move welcomed by travelers but debated within European political circles amid broader conversations about migration, mobility, and strategic trust. Analysts say the juxtaposition of diplomatic recalibration and technical uncertainty underscores the complex terrain India faces as it seeks deeper integration with Europe.
PSLV-C62 was intended as a comeback flight after the rocket’s previous mission failed in 2025, also due to a third-stage issue. Although ISRO conducted a failure analysis at the time, its findings were never made public. The latest anomaly has revived questions about transparency and reliability at a time when India is positioning itself as a dependable global space partner.
The mission carried satellites from Brazil, Nepal, and the United Kingdom, as well as seven payloads from Hyderabad-based startup Dhruva Space, highlighting the growing commercial and diplomatic stakes tied to PSLV launches.
While five failures in 64 missions do not erase PSLV’s reputation as a generally reliable launcher, the timing is sensitive. Europe’s evolving engagement with India; symbolized by Germany’s visa decision, is unfolding alongside expectations that New Delhi will deliver technological consistency as a strategic and commercial partner.
ISRO has said a detailed assessment will be released soon. Until then, the mission’s uncertain outcome stands as a reminder that India’s global standing increasingly rests not only on policy gestures and diplomacy, but on flawless execution in high-stakes domains like space.
