ISRO set to start 2026 launch calendar with PSLV-C62 mission carrying EOS-N1 and multiple payloads
ISRO planned to open its 2026 launch calendar with PSLV-C62, scheduled for liftoff on 12 January 2026 from Sriharikota to place the EOS-N1 Earth Observation Satellite into orbit along with several co-passenger satellites. The mission, involving NSIL’s commercial operations, also included additional in-orbit activities and technology demonstrations, underlining the expanding mix of domestic and international payloads on PSLV flights.
PSLV-C62 to kick off ISRO’s 2026 missions
ISRO’s first major launch of 2026 was lined up for 12 January 2026, when the PSLV-C62 mission was scheduled to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. According to a Business Standard report citing ISRO, the launch was aimed at deploying the EOS-N1 Earth Observation Satellite, along with multiple additional payloads.
The report said the mission would involve a commercial element through NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and included a set of co-passenger satellites belonging to domestic and overseas customers. This blend of payloads highlights how PSLV missions increasingly serve scientific, strategic and commercial objectives simultaneously.
What EOS-N1 adds to the portfolio
Earth observation satellites expand the country’s ability to monitor land, oceans and weather-related patterns, supporting applications such as agriculture, disaster management, urban planning and environmental assessment. While the mission’s detailed operational use depends on instrument specifics, Earth observation is consistently one of the most practical and high-impact categories of space capability.
In the wider context of India’s space roadmap, early-year launches also set momentum for subsequent missions and help demonstrate reliability to customers—especially when a single launch is expected to deploy several satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit in a tightly sequenced operation.
Commercial and technology demonstrations
The report also noted additional activities beyond primary satellite deployment, including technology demonstrations tied to the mission timeline. Such add-ons are increasingly common as space agencies and startups use flight opportunities to validate subsystems and capsules in real orbital conditions.
For India’s space ecosystem, the takeaway is that 2026’s calendar was positioned to begin with a multi-payload PSLV mission that combined national capability with a service-provider role for external customers.