New Delhi: The navigation satellite NVS-02 launched by ISRO in its 100th space mission is in crisis. A technical glitch has hampered the process of raising the satellite’s orbit. The problem is in the combustion process to raise the satellite to the specified orbit. ISRO has informed that the valves to admit oxidizers to ignite the thrusters are not opening. Efforts are underway to resolve this.
The navigation satellite NVS-02, built by the U. R. Rao Satellite Center, is to be placed in a circular geostationary orbit over India. If the liquid engine on the satellite fails to operate, the placement of NVS-02 in the predetermined orbit will be delayed or abandoned.
The satellite is currently in an elliptical orbit. The closest point to Earth is 170 km and the farthest point is 36,577 km. All other operations are proceeding as planned. If the orbit cannot be raised, ISRO will also look into ways to use it while maintaining it in its current elliptical orbit. NVS-02 was launched into orbit at 6.23 am on Wednesday from Sriharikota by GSLV F-15. This was ISRO’s 100th mission.
The 2250 kg satellite is part of the NAVIC system that India is developing as an alternative to GPS. NAVIC is a constellation of 7 satellites to provide accurate positioning, navigation and timing. NVS 02 is the second satellite in this series. India decided to develop its own navigation system after the US refused to provide GPS data during the Kargil War in 1999. Although 11 satellites have been deployed for this purpose since 2013, six have failed partially or completely.
