ISRO Launches EOS-N1 Satellite In First Mission Of 2026

India’s Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted its first launch of 2026, deploying the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite aboard the PSLV-C62 rocket.

Anwesha, also known as EOS-N1, lifted off on the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle at 10:17 AM IST from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Taking to X, ISRO posted, “Liftoff! PSLV-C62 launches the EOS-N1 Mission from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.”

The launch seeks to enhance India’s remote sensing capabilities across agriculture, urban mapping, and environmental monitoring. The mission carries 15 co-passenger satellites scheduled for injection into Sun Synchronous Orbit.

“The PSLV-C62 mission will also demonstrate KID or Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator from a Spanish startup, which is a small-scale prototype of a re-entry vehicle being developed by the startup,” ISRO shared before launch.

ISRO explained that the mission would also demonstrate the KID, or Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator, developed by a Spanish startup.

The small-scale prototype of a re-entry vehicle will follow a controlled trajectory and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere for splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean.

Commercial and Technical Importance of Mission

The PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 mission marks the ninth dedicated commercial mission by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm. The launch also represents the fifth use of the PSLV-DL variant, which features two solid strap-on motors.

PSLV has completed 63 successful flights to date, including landmark missions such as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, Aditya-L1, and Astrosat. The vehicle also holds a world record set in 2017 for launching 104 satellites in a single mission.

Earlier, in May 2025, ISRO conducted the PSLV-C61 mission, deploying the 1,696 kg EOS-09 Earth Observation Satellite into a 505 km Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit.

The mission encountered a technical anomaly in the third stage, preventing the satellite from reaching its intended orbit.

Success with PSLV-C62 strengthens India’s Earth observation infrastructure, supports technological experiments through co-passenger missions, and expands commercial space initiatives via NSIL.

The mission sets a strong precedent for future space endeavours in 2026, reinforcing India’s leadership in satellite deployment and remote sensing capabilities.