The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is currently dealing with challenges following the launch of its NVS-02 navigation satellite, which encountered a technical glitch during orbit operations. Successfully lifted off on January 29 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota, this mission marked the 100th launch from the center and the 17th launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
Despite the initial success of the launch, where all vehicle stages purportedly performed flawlessly and the satellite was injected with precision to its intended orbit, issues arose shortly afterwards. The NVS-02 did establish communication with the ground station and the solar panels were successfully deployed, initiating power generation. Unfortunately, ISRO later detailed the technical malfunction during the orbit raising operations.
ISRO disclosed, "The orbit raising operations toward positioning the satellite to the designated orbital slot could not be carried out as the valves for admitting the oxidizer to fire the thrusters for orbit raising did not open." Concerns loom as the satellite currently resides in elliptical orbit rather than its intended Geostationary Orbit (GEO), approximately 36,000 km above the Earth's equator.
Former ISRO scientist Radha Krishna Kavuluru elaborated on the gravity of the situation, stating, "The satellite’s utility may be compromised if it cannot reach GEO. By the way, at a perigee of 200 km, NVS-02 stands on time for orbital decay due to orbital perturbations and space atmosphere drag." Indeed, if NVS-02 is unable to perform its planned maneuvers, its functionality could be severely limited.
The NVS-02 is part of India's second-generation satellites for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, aimed at delivering highly accurate Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services to users across India and extending about 1,500 km beyond its borders. ISRO is currently formulating alternate strategies for utilizing the satellite even as it remains outside its intended orbital environment.
Systems like NavIC play a pivotal role for national interests, providing key navigation capabilities comparable to global systems, yet operated independently. Future assessments of NVS-02 will greatly depend on ISRO's ability to address and resolve the current technical discrepancies, ensuring the satellite can fulfill its intended purposes amid growing concerns and scrutiny.
With ISRO continuing its efforts to rectify the situation, the outcomes for the NVS-02 will significantly impact both operational capacity and strategic navigation capabilities within the region. The space agency’s focus on creating resilient and reliable satellite navigation systems remains as important as ever to meet the demands of various sectors reliant on precise geographical data.
Challenges faced by the NVS-02 may serve as learning curves for ISRO, which has built its reputation on successful missions. The resilience of both the technology and the ground teams will be tested as they seek to find solutions to the compounding issues arising from this recent launch.