NEW DELHI: India’s prestigious space programme suffered a second body blow within seven months as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) failed to establish contact with a recently launched 2,066 kg communication satellite GSAT-6A even after 36 hours. The last contact was made around 11 am on Saturday.
Seven months ago, the heat shield of India’s first private sector built satellite, IRNSS-1H, failed to separate, making it a space junk.
GSAT-6A is a critical piece of infrastructure having both civilian and defence applications.
Though the space agency in an official statement released around Sunday noon claimed that efforts were underway to re-establish link with the satellite, sources told TNIE that the chances of reviving the `270 cr spacecraft were bleak.
ISRO chairman K Sivan constituted an inquiry committee headed by renowned space scientist Prem Shanker Goel, who is expected to submit a detailed report on what went wrong. Goel is currently chairing the Technology Research Board at Ministry of Earth Sciences. He was also Chairman, Spacecraft System Advisory Board for IRS-1 and director of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) from 1997 to 2005.
On Thursday, the satellite was injected into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit by GSLV-F08 in a near perfect launch. ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan took control of the satellite to perform the customary initial orbit raising manoeuvres by repeatedly firing the Liquid Apogee Motor onboard the satellite.
All through the day, scientists remained tightlipped over the reasons for the failure. Preliminary analysis of the data suggested the satellite was healthy and in a safe orbit.
ISRO chairman Sivan, though, continued to be optimistic. “We are optimistic. I can say all hope is not lost. If the communication link is re-established, we can revive the satellite,” he told TNIE over phone.
Former ISRO officials said failure due to heat shield non-separation and losing communication link are issues that have happened for the first time.
What caused the communication failure?
As of now, I don’t have an answer for this question. All I can say is the telemetry or the automated communication system of the satellite was lost within minutes after second orbit raising manoeuvre was performed on Saturday morning. Since then, our master controllers are trying continuously to re-establish the communication link, but in vain. An inquiry committee headed by renowned satellite scientist PS Goel has been constituted to investigate.
Is losing communication link and re-establishing it a routine procedure?
Yes, in some previous missions, there were such incidents, but this is the first time we have lost communication with the satellite for such a long duration. Usually, the communication gets automatically re-established within a minute or so and we will not even know. But, in the case of GSAT-6A, it did not happen.
What is the health status of the satellite?
As per preliminary analysis of the data available, the satellite is intact and in safe mode. This means it’s in good health and also, we know where the satellite is located. After the second orbit raising manoeuvre was performed, the satellite reached a perigee (nearest point to earth) of 26,000 km and an apogee (farthest point of Earth) of 36,000 km, which is almost close to the final orbit.
What are the chances of revival?
We are optimistic. I can say all hope is not lost. If the communication link is re-established, we can revive the satellite.
For how many days can ISRO scientists keep searching for the lost satellite?
The solar panels on board the satellite will be continuously harnessing power and since other systems are not operational, there would be sufficient power to re-establish the communication link.
Will this cast a shadow on forthcoming missions as ISRO has 10 launches planned in nine months?
This will not have any bearing on forthcoming missions. The next PSLV launch carrying IRNSS-1I scheduled in the next two weeks will go on as per plan and so will the other missions.
