Thiruvananthapuram: India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval undertook a focused two-day visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba last month, underscoring New Delhi’s deepening concern over recent setbacks in the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) programme. The visit conducted in the third week of January took place against the backdrop of back-to-back PSLV mission failures that have drawn rare attention from the highest levels of government.
During his time in Thumba, where PSLV vehicles are designed and tested, Mr. Doval engaged in detailed consultations with senior scientists and engineers at VSSC, the principal ISRO facility responsible for launch vehicle development. The discussions were aimed at gaining first-hand insight into the technical and procedural circumstances surrounding the anomalies experienced by two consecutive PSLV missions a phenomenon that has unsettled India’s traditionally robust space launch programme.
The PSLV, long celebrated as the backbone of India’s satellite launch capabilities, faced its first significant setback on May 18, 2025, when the PSLV-C61 mission failed during the critical third stage of flight, attributed to a sudden drop in chamber pressure in the solid motor stage. That anomaly prevented the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite from reaching its intended orbit, a rare occurrence for a launcher with an otherwise stellar track record.
Only months later, on January 12, 2026, the follow-up mission PSLV-C62, carrying the EOS-N1 hyperspectral satellite alongside 15 co-passenger payloads also experienced a malfunction near the end of its third stage burn. Early technical reviews reported a deviation in the rocket’s planned flight path, prompting ISRO to declare the mission unsuccessful and immediately launch a detailed analysis of the incident.
This sequence of events two anomalies within a relatively short period has prompted a broader investigation into quality assurance, manufacturing and technical processes across vehicle production and testing. Recognizing the seriousness of these developments, separate internal and external failure assessment committees have been constituted to identify root causes and recommend corrective action.
Mr. Doval, who also serves as a member of India’s Space Commission, was reported to have visited the VSSC on direct instructions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to evaluate whether the successive PSLV setbacks had any implications beyond routine technical issues, including considerations related to national security. During his meetings, the NSA reviewed data, asked probing questions and sought to understand the trajectory of the investigative process.
Upon returning to New Delhi, Mr. Doval submitted a comprehensive report to government principals, which is understood to have ruled out indications of foul play or sabotage but highlighted specific technical and procedural gaps that warrant systemic attention. According to official statements, Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh has reiterated that there is no evidence of external interference in the launch failures.
Despite the setbacks, senior space officials in the Union government have expressed confidence in the long-term reliability of the PSLV. Speaking in New Delhi, Minister Singh stated that the technical reasons behind the two failures were not the same and emphasized that ISRO is targeting a PSLV relaunch as early as June 2026 after necessary corrective work is completed.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has maintained that ongoing analyses will guide future missions, noting that each anomaly contributes data critical to refining design, manufacturing and quality control processes. He also stressed that these challenges will not affect independent programmes such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, which uses a different launch vehicle.
As India’s space programme undergoes this intense phase of review and renewal, the involvement of national security leadership reflects a broader imperative to safeguard technological credibility and strategic assets in space. Stakeholders from scientists to policymakers are now focused on translating lessons learned into robust engineering solutions to ensure that the PSLV returns to its historical role as a dependable workhorse of Indian space ambitions.