A photo posted by @ispaceflight_in showing a a PLF (Payload Fairing) washed up on an uninhabited island near L. Kunahandhoo, Maldives, found on February 12, 2026. Photo credits: X/@ispaceflight_in
Debris of a launch vehicle with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) logo and the national emblem have reportedly been found recently in an uninhabited island in Maldives.
The debris of the Payload Fairing which are believed to be that of ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) washed up to an island near L. Kunahandhoo in Maldives, and found on February 12. Local Maldivian media have also reported on parts of the debris washing up to the shore.
The debris are said to have fallen on an uninhabited island and there has been no damage caused to any human life or property due to their impact.
indianspaceflight.in., a website which tracks Indian spaceflight and aerospace developments, in a post on X said the debris were likely from the LVM3-M6 mission.
“A PLF (Payload Fairing) has washed up on an uninhabited island near L. Kunahandhoo, #maldives (found February 12, 2026). The @isro logo’s position below the national emblem suggests it is likely from the LVM3-M6 launch. This follows a similar recovery on December 28, 2025, in Sri Lanka (Trincomalee), which also appeared to be from the same mission. #ISRO #LVM3M6 #LVM,” @ispaceflight_in posted on X.
On December 19, 2025 ISRO launched the LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 Mission, a dedicated commercial mission onboard the LVM3 launch vehicle. During the mission, it successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite of AST SpaceMobile, U.S.A. and on November 2 the space agency used the LVM-3 to launch the CMS-03 communication satellite.
LVM3 is the heaviest rocket developed by ISRO and is a three-stage launch vehicle comprising two solid strap-on motors, a liquid core stage and a cryogenic upper stage .
ISRO is yet to confirm whether the debris are from an Indian launch vehicle.
Published – February 15, 2026 10:53 pm IST
