India is starting 2026 with a bang. On January 12, 2026, at 10.17 in the morning, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its PSLV-C62 rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
This is the 64th flight of India's most trusted rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), and it's carrying something truly special—one big satellite and 18 smaller ones, all heading to space together.
Understanding the PSLV-C62 Rocket
Think of PSLV as India's space bus, but let's understand how this amazing machine actually works. The PSLV-C62 is what's called a DL variant, which means it flies with two strap-on motors attached to its sides—like extra boosters giving it that initial push. Standing tall at 44.4 meters (like a 15-floor building) with a diameter of 3.2 meters, this rocket weighs 320 tonnes at liftoff and generates a massive thrust of 5,867 kilonewtons—that's enough power to lift several jumbo jets.
“The rocket has four stages stacked on top of each other, and here's the clever part: they use different types of fuel alternately. Stage 1 and Stage 3 use solid propellants (like giant fireworks), while Stage 2 and Stage 4 use liquid propellants that can be stored at normal Earth temperatures. This smart design makes PSLV reliable and versatile. Each stage fires up, does its job, and then separates, making the rocket lighter as it climbs higher. The PSLV has been working since 1993 with a success rate of over 95%, which means it almost never fails. This powerful machine will place satellites into orbit 525 kilometres above Earth—that's much higher than where airplanes fly,” explained space analyst Girish Linganna.
The star of the show: Anvesha
The main passenger on this flight is a satellite called EOS-N1, or Anvesha, weighing several hundred kilograms. Built by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Anvesha is no ordinary camera in the sky. It uses hyperspectral imaging, a fancy term for super-powered vision. While your phone camera captures three colours (red, green, blue), Anvesha captures hundreds of colours that our eyes can't even see!
Why is this useful? Imagine trying to spot someone wearing camouflage in a forest. Your eyes might miss them, but Anvesha's special sensors can detect the difference between real leaves and fabric painted to look like leaves. This capability makes it incredibly important for national defence and security.
“For our military and border security forces, Anvesha is a game-changer. It can monitor our long borders with Pakistan and China, detecting any unusual movements or hidden military installations. The satellite can spot camouflaged tanks, temporary structures built overnight, or troops hiding under forest cover. In areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh or the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, where terrain is difficult, and weather conditions are harsh, Anvesha provides round-the-clock surveillance without risking soldiers' lives,” added Linganna.
The satellite can also identify changes in infrastructure if an enemy is building a new road, bridge, or bunker near the border, Anvesha will catch it. During times of tension, this early warning system gives our defence planners crucial time to respond appropriately. It can even help track illegal activities like smuggling routes or unauthorised border crossings that threaten national security.
But Anvesha isn't just for defence. Farmers can use its data to check if their crops are healthy or need water—the satellite can detect plant stress even before it's visible to the naked eye. Environmental scientists can track pollution in rivers, monitor illegal mining activities, or find where forests are being cut down unlawfully. Disaster management teams can assess damage after earthquakes or floods. It's like giving India a powerful pair of glasses to see things we couldn't see before, protecting both our borders and our environment.
One of the most exciting parts is that it will have 18 passengers. Together, they weigh about 200 kilograms, and each one has a unique mission.
Among them, AayulSAT, built by a Bengaluru startup called OrbitAID Aerospace, is testing something revolutionary: refuelling satellites in space. Right now, when a satellite runs out of fuel, it becomes space junk floating uselessly in orbit. But what if we could fill it up again, like refuelling a scooter at a petrol pump? That's what AayulSAT wants to prove is possible. If successful, this technology could save billions of rupees by extending satellite lifespans and reducing the need to launch replacements.
Then there's MOI-1, a small 14-kilogram satellite from Hyderabad. It has artificial intelligence built into it, which means it can think for itself in space! When MOI-1 takes pictures of Earth, it doesn't need to send them to scientists on the ground to figure out what's happening. It can analyse the images itself and immediately alert people if there's a flood, forest fire, or other emergency. This could save precious time during disasters when every minute counts.
The mission also showcases international friendship. There's a joint satellite with Mauritius, showing how India shares its space technology with neighbours and strengthens diplomatic ties. Spain's contribution is particularly interesting: the Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), a 25-kilogram probe about the size of a football, developed by European startup Orbital Demonstrator.
This special probe will remain attached to the rocket's fourth stage (PS-4) and test how to bring experiments back from space cheaply. Scientists can send materials or biological samples to space, conduct experiments in the weightless environment, and then safely return them to Earth for detailed study.
Perhaps the most touching payload is Orbital Temple from Brazil. This tiny 250-gram satellite is actually a space memorial. People can upload the names of their loved ones who have passed away through a website, and those names are stored in the satellite orbiting Earth. For the next decade, these names will circle our planet among the stars before the satellite safely burns up in the atmosphere. It's a beautiful way of connecting memory, art, and space exploration, showing that space isn't just for science—it's for human emotions too.
Other satellites from the UAE and USA are also hitching this ride, making PSLV-C62 a truly global mission that brings together nations in the peaceful exploration of space.
Space missions like PSLV-C62 have created thousands of jobs for engineers, scientists, technicians, and support staff. India's rapidly growing space sector opens up exciting career opportunities across the country, from designing satellites to analysing space data. These satellites help in everyday life too—better weather forecasts help you plan your day, GPS navigation guides you through unfamiliar streets, disaster warnings save lives, and monitoring systems catch people who break environmental laws.
