PSLV Mission Setback: 16 ‘Satellites’ Onboard, Only ‘KID’ Survives
What looked like a complete loss after the failed PSLV-C62 launch has taken an unexpected turn, thanks to a tiny capsule aptly named KID, which lived up to its name with remarkable resilience.
When the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle failed on Monday, it was initially believed that all 16 payloads onboard including key Indian satellites had been lost. But a day later, Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm revealed that its experimental capsule, the Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), had not only survived but also managed to separate from the rocket and transmit data.
Sharing the update on X, the company wrote: “Our KID capsule, against all odds, separated from PSLV C62, switched on, and transmitted data. We’re reconstructing trajectory. Full report will come.” The announcement stood out as a rare positive note in an otherwise disappointing mission.
Orbital Paradigm focuses on what it calls “space industrialisation,” with a long-term goal of making cargo return trips from orbit to Earth frequent, efficient, and affordable. Central to this vision are re-entry capsules designed to withstand extreme heat and pressure. KID was a technology demonstrator essentially a prototype for the company’s planned return vehicle, Kernel, which is designed to bring back up to 120 kg of payload from orbit.
When the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle failed on Monday, it was initially believed that all 16 payloads onboard including key Indian satellites had been lost. But a day later, Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm revealed that its experimental capsule, the Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), had not only survived but also managed to separate from the rocket and transmit data.
Sharing the update on X, the company wrote: “Our KID capsule, against all odds, separated from PSLV C62, switched on, and transmitted data. We’re reconstructing trajectory. Full report will come.” The announcement stood out as a rare positive note in an otherwise disappointing mission.
Orbital Paradigm focuses on what it calls “space industrialisation,” with a long-term goal of making cargo return trips from orbit to Earth frequent, efficient, and affordable. Central to this vision are re-entry capsules designed to withstand extreme heat and pressure. KID was a technology demonstrator essentially a prototype for the company’s planned return vehicle, Kernel, which is designed to bring back up to 120 kg of payload from orbit.
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