BENGALURU: Determined to leave nothing to chance, Isro put the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through an unusually rigorous preparation cycle ahead of its Jan 12 mission, its first since the setback that grounded the workhorse launcher on May 18, 2025.“Instead of the usual number of Mission Readiness Reviews (MRRs) conducted for a standard PSLV launch, we cleared PSLV-C62 through seven MRRs this time, a level of scrutiny normally reserved for far newer or less flight-proven vehicles,” a senior official confirmed to TOI.
This, the official said, after implementing everything the failure analysis committee (FAC) probing last year’s failure had recommended. “As PS3 ignition was announced and subsequent announcement of progress being normal came, we were relieved as that meant that the nozzle that had the glitch last year didn’t give us any trouble,” another scientist said, indicating that a new issue may have caused Monday’s failure.MRRs are the final, formal checkpoints before launch, where every subsystem, interface and operational procedure is signed off. For PSLV, which has flown more than 60 missions, the number of MRRs has, over the past several years, never exceeded four, even in more complex configurations. In recent years, three has been the norm.Senior officials said the expanded review process reflected the high stakes attached to the mission, which was meant to restore confidence in PSLV after a rare failure last year. “This was a return-to-flight mission, so the bar was set much higher,” a scientist said, pointing out that by comparison, GSLV Mk-II and LVM3 missions typically undergo five to six MRRs, reflecting their relative lack of heritage. Before the MRRs, hundreds of technical reviews had already been conducted across Isro centres, focusing on propulsion systems, interfaces and flight sequences, particularly those linked to the stage that had faltered in the earlier mission.The Jan 12 launch was therefore positioned internally as more than a routine flight. It was meant to signal that Isro’s review mechanisms, often cited as one of the agency’s strengths, had done their job. As one official put it, “Nobody takes a PSLV failure lightly. This time, the preparation was far more than usual. The challenge now is to understand why that was still not enough.”Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO & Co-founder, Dhruva Space, which was to enable 10 missions on the PSLV-C62 had the launch been a success, said: “Space is inherently complex…Dhruva has worked alongside Isro, INSPACe, Nsil and other partners to enable customers with satellites, launch systems, and launch services.” “…At this stage, our focus is on a measured and timely turnaround. We continue to see strong momentum and maturity in the Indian Space programme and we are confident the ecosystem will grow, as envisioned in the Decadal Vision,” he added.A source from Space PSU NewSpace India Limited (Nsil) also said that while Monday’s failure was a setback, PSLV’s long legacy still had currency. “It’s not as if customers will stop booking slots on PSLV,” the person said.
