ISRO's PSLV has been India's most reliable workhorse launch vehicle, but consecutive failures in 2025–26 raise questions about quality assurance and systemic risk in space programmes. Critically analyse the implications for India's commercial and strategic space objectives.

Q. ISRO's PSLV has been India's most reliable workhorse launch vehicle, but consecutive failures in 2025–26 raise questions about quality assurance and systemic risk in space programmes. Critically analyse the implications for India's commercial and strategic space objectives. (15 marks, 250-350 words)

The PSLV, flying since 1993, built its "workhorse" reputation on missions from Chandrayaan-1 to the 104-satellite record flight. That reputation is now under strain: PSLV-C61/EOS-09 (May 2025) and PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 (January 2026) both performed normally through the lower stages and failed in the third stage [1][2] — a repetition that points to systemic, not random, risk.

Quality assurance and systemic risk - In C61, performance was normal till the second stage before an observation in the third stage aborted the mission [1]; in C62, a higher disturbance in vehicle roll rates near the end of the third stage caused flight-path deviation [2]. The same subsystem failing twice suggests a design–process gap in solid-stage and attitude control, not a one-off defect. - C62 flew after a probe committee examined C61 [3]; recurrence indicates corrective action was closed before root cause was fully settled — a hazard of "heritage reliability" thinking on a proven vehicle. - A near-monthly launch cadence [3] compresses independent review, illustrating the classic reliability–throughput trade-off.

Commercial objectives - Post-2020 reforms made NSIL the demand-driven commercial arm and IN-SPACe the promotion-cum-authorisation body to unlock private participation [4][5]. C62 carried 14 commercial payloads for domestic and international customers [2]; their loss dents mission-assurance credibility, raises insurance costs and may divert small-satellite customers to rival providers just as India courts a larger market share.

Strategic objectives - Both lost payloads were Earth observation assets — EOS-09 carried synthetic aperture radar for all-weather imaging [1]. PSLV is the mainstay for sun-synchronous remote sensing, so grounding it delays replenishment of surveillance capacity.

Yet two setbacks do not negate a three-decade record. A transparent, independently reviewed failure analysis, strengthened PS3 qualification testing, and calibrating cadence to assurance capacity — with IN-SPACe institutionalising mission-assurance audits — can convert this into a reliability upgrade, keeping India's commercial and strategic space goals on course.

(~320 words)

Sources: 1. PSLV-C61/EOS-09 Mission — ISRO — normal performance till second stage, third-stage observation, EOS-09 SAR payload 2. PSLV-C62 anomaly: ISRO investigates roll disturbance during third stage of EOS-N1 mission — Prasar Bharati/News on AIR — roll-rate disturbance, flight-path deviation, 14 commercial payloads 3. ISRO forms probe panel after PSLV-C61 glitch leaves EOS-09 off target — Prasar Bharati/News on AIR — failure probe committee and monthly launch cadence 4. Opening Up Indian Space Sector for Private Sector — Reforms, ISRO — 2020 reforms, IN-SPACe as nodal authorisation body 5. Space Sector Reforms have unlocked India's Commercial Potential in Space — PIB — NSIL's demand-driven commercial mandate