ISRO begins countdown for PSLV-C62 launch on Jan 12 at 10:18 am, carrying 14 satellites including an Earth observation satellite.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) began the countdown on Sunday for the launch of a rocket that would carry an earth observation satellite and 13 others into orbit around the blue planet.

The 22.5-hour countdown, which began at 12.48 p.m., will culminate in the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C62 rocket, the national space agency’s first of the year.

Key information about PSLV-C62:

The PSLV-C62, with a lift-off mass of approximately 260 tonnes, will now launch at 10.18 am on January 12, a minute later than previously scheduled, according to news agency PTI, citing ISRO officials.

Customers from both local and international markets own 14 co-passenger satellites, including the earth observation satellite.

Also read : Suspected Pakistani Drones Spotted Over IB & LoC in J&K’s Samba, Rajouri, Poonch

The PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission would launch an observation satellite manufactured by Thailand and the United Kingdom. This will be followed by 13 other co-passenger spacecraft into sun-synchronous orbit about 17 minutes following launch.

The mission is carried out by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial subsidiary.

PSLV & ISRO

The PSLV rocket has performed 63 flights, including the ambitious Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), and Aditya-L1 missions.

The C61 earth observation satellite 09 mission was the last PSLV launch, taking place on May 18, 2025. The launch failed owing to a “observation” in the rocket’s third stage.