New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) recent launch of the NVS-02 satellite faced significant hurdles this past Sunday, with the space agency confirming technical issues related to the satellite's thrusters.
The NVS-02 satellite, pivotal for India's own space-based navigation system, was successfully launched on January 29, 2023, aboard the GSLV-Mk 2 rocket from the Sriharikota spaceport, marking ISRO's 100th mission. The rocket launch was carried out flawlessly, achieving its intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Yet, the real challenge arose shortly after the launch.
ISRO reported, "The orbit raising operations...could not be carried out as the valves for admitting the oxidizer to fire the thrusters for orbit raising did not open." This malfunction prevented the thrusters from executing the necessary maneuvers to position the satellite properly within its designated orbital slot.
Currently, the NVS-02 is orbiting Earth, albeit not optimally, remaining situated within the elliptical GTO, which is deemed unsuitable for navigation purposes. Despite the setback, ISRO assured the public about the satellite's well-being, stating, "The satellite systems are healthy and the satellite is currently in elliptical orbit. Alternate mission strategies for utilizing the satellite for navigation are being worked out." This indicates proactive measures by ISRO to address the challenges posed by the current orbit.
Following its deployment, the satellite's solar panels were successfully deployed, with ISRO confirming nominal power generation and established communication with the ground stations.
The NVS-02 satellite, known as Navigation Satellite-02, is integral to India's Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) program—a regional satellite navigation system aimed at reducing the country's reliance on global positioning systems. Notably, this satellite mission is the fifth addition to the NavIC system, which boasts capabilities including providing precise position, velocity, and timing (PVT) services to users within India and surrounding regions.
NavIC is expected to play a significant role in applications such as terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation, precision agriculture, fleet management, and more. Its Standard Positioning Service (SPS) aims to deliver positional accuracy within 20 meters and timing accuracy of 40 nanoseconds.
The NVS-02 holds promise for enhancing these services, especially as it aims to contribute to the system's robustness and extend operational capabilities. The first satellite of the second-generation navigation satellites, NVS-01, was successfully launched by ISRO on May 29, 2023, paving the way for this ambitious project.
Despite the initial setback with thruster operations, ISRO's commitment to innovatively navigate challenges reflects its determination to bolster India's space capabilities. With continued efforts, it is anticipated the NVS-02 satellite can still serve its purpose and deliver valuable navigation services to users across varying sectors.
This mission encapsulates ISRO's spirit of resilience and advancement, with the teams actively working to explore solutions even as they face unexpected complications. Looking forward, the successful achievement of these navigation capabilities stands to significantly benefit users within India and its neighboring territories.