New Delhi: ISRO’s PSLV-C62 flight lifted off successfully from the First Launch Pad at Sriharikota earlier today, with the first and second stage performing nominally. The rocket began to tumble uncontrollably during a planned coast of the third stage, from which ISRO could not recover, leading to a loss in the mission. One of the 16 payloads on board was the MOI-1 satellite, with the MIRA compact and lightweight payload, that has both strategic and civilian applications. The satellite was realised through a partnership with TakeMe2Space, that infused the satellite with on-board artificial intelligence.
Cofounder of Eon Space Labs, Sanjay Kumar said, “We are grateful to ISRO for the opportunity to be part of the PSLV-C62 mission. For a young startup like EON Space Labs, flying an indigenously developed payload on a national launch vehicle itself represents a meaningful validation of our technology, processes, and team. As with all space missions, inherent risks are part of the journey, and such outcomes contribute to building a mature and resilient space ecosystem. While the result was not what we had hoped for, the learnings from this mission are valuable, and our focus remains firmly on execution and moving forward with clarity and resilience.”
Next Steps for MIRA
Eon Space Labs is now prioritising the MOI-2 mission, and is aiming to keep another MIRA payload flight ready by the end of February. The company is targeting a mid-2026 launch window, subject to availability and alignment. Eon Space Labs also plans to conduct high-altitude balloon testing in parallel, with Indian partners including Hyderabad-based Red Balloon Aerospace and other organisations being evaluated. These tests will further validate the imaging performance, thermal behaviour and overall system robustness in near-space conditions. Kumar explained, “We remain optimistic, focused, and committed to delivering a reliable, flight-proven payload. This phase reinforces our belief in iterative progress, disciplined execution, and long-term value creation. We look forward to sharing the next milestones soon.”