The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) hit a major milestone with its 100th rocket mission on Wednesday, successfully launching the GSLV-F15 rocket carrying the NVS-02 navigation satellite from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. However, the excitement was short-lived as the satellite encountered a significant technical glitch just days after its launch, raising concerns about the mission’s future.
The NVS-02 satellite, part of ISRO’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) program, is designed to enhance India’s regional satellite navigation capabilities, serving as a regional alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS). Unfortunately, the satellite suffered a malfunction on Sunday, when it failed to complete the “orbit-raising operations.” According to ISRO’s official statement, the issue arose when the valves responsible for admitting the oxidizer to fire the thrusters for orbit raising did not open as expected.
As a result, the satellite’s journey to its designated geostationary circular orbit, located over India, has been delayed or possibly abandoned. Currently, the satellite is in an elliptical orbit, which limits its ability to carry out its primary tasks. “The satellite systems are healthy, but the satellite is currently in elliptical orbit. Alternate mission strategies for utilizing the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit are being worked out,” ISRO said in its update.
The NVS-02 satellite, weighing 2,250kg, is the second in the second generation of NavIC satellites. The satellite was intended to provide crucial navigation services for India, contributing to national security and other critical applications. However, experts have raised concerns, as the satellite’s current orbit of nearly 170 kilometers at its nearest point and 36,577 kilometers at its farthest point from Earth will not allow it to perform its intended functions optimally.
The satellite’s glitch is a significant setback for ISRO, as the NavIC program, which was developed in the aftermath of the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, has faced multiple challenges over the years. After being denied access to high-quality GPS data during the conflict, the Indian government, under then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had promised to develop a regional GPS system for India’s strategic needs. However, many of the satellites in the NavIC series have faced technical issues, with six out of 11 launched since 2013 either partially or entirely failing.
This latest setback further highlights the challenges that ISRO has faced in achieving consistent success with its regional navigation satellite system, despite significant advancements in space exploration. ISRO, however, remains committed to working on alternate solutions for the satellite’s operational capabilities, with the hope that the NVS-02 can still serve India’s navigation needs in some capacity.
This mission also marks a historic moment for ISRO as it was the first mission under the leadership of the new Chairman, V. Narayanan, who assumed office recently. Despite this technical glitch, the space agency’s ability to carry out ambitious space missions continues to showcase India’s growing space exploration capabilities.
With ongoing efforts to rectify the situation and utilize the satellite’s capabilities, all eyes will remain on ISRO’s next steps as it strives to navigate the challenges of the NavIC program and its future satellite missions.
Sources By Agencies
