Only One Payload Survived ISRO’s PSLV Failure: A Spanish Satellite That Just Sent Signals Back

Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm said its experimental re-entry capsule survived the launch anomaly and successfully transmitted data back to Earth following the failure of ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission. The company announced that its Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) capsule- a 25-kg, football-sized prototype flying as a co-passenger- managed to separate from the rocket, switch on and relay telemetry despite the mission’s primary payloads being lost.

“Our KID capsule separated from PSLV-C62, powered on, and transmitted data for more than three minutes,” Orbital Paradigm said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “We survived peak heat and peak g-load, with around 28g recorded. We are now reconstructing the trajectory. A full report will follow.”

What Was PSLV-C62 Mission Carrying?

The capsule was launched on January 12 aboard PSLV-C62, ISRO’s first mission of 2026, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The rocket was carrying the EOS-N1 (Anvesha) satellite for the Defence Research and Development Organisation, along with 15 co-passenger payloads from India and abroad.

What Went Wrong During Launch?

The mission ran into trouble during the final burn of the third stage (PS3), which prevented the rocket from placing its payloads into the intended orbit. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said a “deviation” was observed in the third stage and that detailed analysis was underway. While the space agency has not formally declared the mission a failure, the primary satellites are believed to have been lost.

Why Is KID’s Survival Significant?

Against that backdrop, Orbital Paradigm’s update stood out. The KID capsule, designed to test re-entry technologies and eventually splash down in the South Pacific, endured extreme thermal stress and deceleration forces during an unplanned atmospheric re-entry- conditions that typically destroy small experimental payloads.

What Is Capsule Designed To Do?

Developed in partnership with French firm RIDE, the capsule is part of Orbital Paradigm’s efforts to build reusable re-entry systems for satellite servicing, in-orbit logistics and controlled de-orbiting. The data captured during the unexpected re-entry, the company said, could prove especially valuable because it reflects “off-nominal” conditions rarely available to engineers.

What Happens Next?

Orbital Paradigm said it plans to publish a detailed technical report in the coming weeks, which could help accelerate the development of its full-scale Kestrel capsule.