ISRO to kick off India’s space year with PSLV-C62 launch on January 12: Key details

PSLV-C62 will carry EOS-N1 and 15 co-passenger satellites. (Image: X/@isro)

• PSLV-C62 to launch Anvesha Earth observation satellite on January 12, 2026
• Mission marks PSLV's 64th flight, reinforcing its reliability and legacy
• Launch scheduled from Sriharikota's First Launch Pad at 10:17 am IST

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India is set to begin its space calendar for 2026 with the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C62, marking the country’s first orbital mission of the year. The launch is scheduled for Monday (January 12) from Sriharikota, and is being closely watched as another milestone for one of India’s most trusted launch systems.

According to officials, this mission will continue the PSLV’s long-standing role as a workhorse for Earth observation and scientific satellites, reinforcing India’s steady pace in space operations early in the new year.

What makes PSLV-C62 significant

The upcoming mission will be the 64th flight of the PSLV, underlining its reliability and long operational history. Speaking to news agency ANI, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium Director BR. Guruprasad highlighted the importance of the launch vehicle and its legacy.

“Tomorrow, on January 12, 2026, is the first launch of the year being conducted by India. This launch vehicle is one of the most reliable ones in the world. The PSLV has also launched spacecraft such as Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, Aditya-L1, and others,” he has been quoted as saying.

The mission adds another chapter to PSLV’s track record of successfully deploying satellites across a range of orbits and mission profiles.

Satellite payload and orbit details

PSLV-C62 will carry an Earth observation satellite named Anvesha, also designated as EOS-N1. The spacecraft is intended for a polar sun-synchronous orbit, enabling consistent lighting conditions for imaging and data collection.

Explaining the mission profile, Guruprasad said, “It will be the 64th launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. This vehicle is going to take a satellite called Anvesha, EOS-N1, an Earth observation satellite, into a polar sun-synchronous orbit, probably a couple of hundred kilometres above the Earth's surface.”

Such orbits are commonly used for observation missions as they allow satellites to pass over the same region at roughly the same local solar time.

Launch schedule and location

The Indian Space Research Organisation has officially confirmed the timing and venue for the mission. In a post on X, ISRO stated, “The Launch of PSLV-C62 Mission is scheduled on 12 January 2026 at 10:17 hrs IST from First Launch Pad (FLP), SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.” In another post, it said that PSLV-C62 will carry EOS-N1 and 15 co-passenger satellites.

It added that EOS-N1 and 14 co-passengers are planned for injection into sun synchronous orbit, and the KID capsule is planned for a re-entry trajectory.

The launch will take place from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, which has hosted numerous PSLV and LVM3 missions over the years.

India's recent missions

The PSLV-C62 launch follows a successful mission carried out late last year. On December 24, ISRO launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite for US-based AST SpaceMobile. The satellite was placed into orbit successfully, and the mission was declared a success.

That launch, conducted at 8:55 am IST from Sriharikota, involved the LVM3 rocket and marked a major commercial milestone. The mission deployed a next-generation communication satellite designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones worldwide.

LVM3 and commercial capabilities

ISRO has described the LVM3-M6/BlueBird Block-2 mission as a dedicated commercial flight. The satellite was the heaviest payload ever launched into low Earth orbit by the LVM3, and the mission marked the sixth operational flight of the vehicle.

LVM3 is a three-stage launch system featuring two solid strap-on motors, a liquid core stage, and a cryogenic upper stage. With its high lift-off mass and payload capacity, it plays a central role in India’s heavy-lift and commercial launch ambitions.

As India prepares for the PSLV-C62 mission, the launch reflects both continuity and momentum in the country’s space programme at the start of 2026.