BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation left nothing to chance for its crucial January 12 launch. Determined to ensure success, ISRO put the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle through an exceptionally rigorous preparation cycle. This mission marked the workhorse launcher's first flight since its May 18, 2025 setback.
Unprecedented Scrutiny for Veteran Rocket
A senior official confirmed to TOI that ISRO conducted seven Mission Readiness Reviews for PSLV-C62. This level of scrutiny normally applies to newer or less flight-proven vehicles. The official explained that ISRO implemented every recommendation from the failure analysis committee investigating last year's incident.
"Instead of the usual number of MRRs for a standard PSLV launch, we cleared PSLV-C62 through seven MRRs this time," the official stated. "This reflects the extraordinary care we took for this mission."
High Stakes for Return-to-Flight Mission
Senior officials emphasized that the expanded review process reflected the mission's critical importance. This launch aimed to restore confidence in PSLV after last year's rare failure. A scientist directly involved noted that the bar was set much higher for this return-to-flight mission.
Mission Readiness Reviews represent the final formal checkpoints before launch. During these reviews, every subsystem, interface, and operational procedure receives official sign-off. For PSLV, which has completed over 60 missions, the number of MRRs typically never exceeds four. In recent years, three reviews have become standard practice.
By comparison, GSLV Mk-II and LVM3 missions usually undergo five to six MRRs. This difference reflects their relative lack of heritage compared to the veteran PSLV.
Technical Reviews and Industry Perspective
Before the formal MRRs, ISRO centers conducted hundreds of technical reviews. These focused specifically on propulsion systems, interfaces, and flight sequences. Particular attention was paid to the stage that experienced problems during the previous mission.
Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO and Co-founder of Dhruva Space, shared his perspective. His company had planned to enable 10 missions on PSLV-C62 had the launch succeeded. "Space is inherently complex," Nekkanti noted. "Dhruva has worked alongside ISRO, INSPACe, Nsil, and other partners to enable customers with satellites, launch systems, and launch services."
He added, "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. We remain confident the ecosystem will grow as envisioned in the Decadal Vision."
Confidence in PSLV's Legacy
A source from Space PSU NewSpace India Limited acknowledged Monday's failure as a setback. However, the source emphasized that PSLV's long legacy still carries significant weight in the industry. "It's not as if customers will stop booking slots on PSLV," the person stated confidently.
Internally, ISRO positioned the January 12 launch as more than a routine flight. The mission aimed to demonstrate that the agency's review mechanisms, often cited as organizational strengths, had functioned effectively. One official summarized the situation succinctly: "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."
As scientists analyzed the mission, one noted particular relief during early stages. "As PS3 ignition was announced and subsequent announcement of progress being normal came, we were relieved," the scientist explained. "That meant the nozzle that had the glitch last year didn't give us any trouble." This observation suggests a new issue may have caused Monday's failure.
