Chennai, Feb. 17 -- The ill-fated PSLV-C62 mission has revealed a new twist: contrary to earlier assumptions that the rocket failed at the end of its third-stage burn, evidence suggests its fourth stage actually ignited before the vehicle descended back to Earth.
The rocket carried India's strategic satellite EOS-N1 as primary passenger and 15 other small satellites belonging to Indian and foreign entities.
According to Spanish space company Orbital Paradigm, which had launched its space craft Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID) aboard the rocket, the fourth stage began thrusting even as the vehicle was already falling.
In its post-flight report titled "The KID Survived," the company stated that after separating from the third ...