Lone Spanish Satellite Survives PSLV-C62’s Failure

13th January 2026 at 5:40 PM

1 minute read

In a stunning twist amid the wreckage of Isro's failed PSLV-C62 mission, Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm revealed that its Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) capsule remarkably survived.

New Delhi : In a stunning twist amid the wreckage of Isro’s failed PSLV-C62 mission, Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm revealed that its Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) capsule remarkably survived. We’re reconstructing trajectory. We survived peak heat and peak g-load (~28g recorded). We have internal temps. Full report will come. The capsule, designed for reentry testing toward a splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean, endured peak deceleration forces and thermal stresses that would pulverise most experimental hardware.

Isro’s PSLV-C62, the agency’s first launch of 2026 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, lifted off at 10:17 AM IST carrying EOS-N1 (Anvesha), a DRDO strategic imaging satellite, alongside 15 co-passengers including AayulSAT for on-orbit refueling and international payloads from Mauritius, Nepal, and others. Tragedy struck during the PS3 stage’s final burn, preventing orbital insertion and likely losing all 16 satellites. Isro Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed a “deviation” in the third stage, with data analysis ongoing, no official failure declaration yet.

Developed with French partner RIDE, it validates Orbital Paradigm’s reusable re-entry tech, crucial for future satellite servicing and de-orbiting. Amid Isro’s rare PSLV setback (64th flight), the episode spotlights growing international reliance on Indian rideshares and the resilience of CubeSat-scale innovators. Orbital Paradigm plans a detailed report soon, potentially accelerating Kestrel’s full-scale development.

To facilitate this demonstration, ISRO scientists planned to restart the rocket’s fourth stage (PS4) to perform a critical de-boost maneuver. This maneuver was designed to place the stage on a specific re-entry trajectory before releasing the KID capsule. The plan intended for both the PS4 stage and the KID capsule to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere for a controlled splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean.