The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) encountered a challenge in its latest mission, as the NVS-02 satellite failed to reach its designated orbit due to a thruster malfunction.
The space agency confirmed on Sunday that the onboard thrusters did not fire as expected, preventing the planned orbit-raising maneuvers.
The NVS-02 satellite, launched last Wednesday aboard the GSLV-Mk 2 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, was a key component of India’s indigenous navigation system, aimed at reducing dependence on the Global Positioning System (GPS).
ISRO explained that the issue arose when the valves responsible for admitting oxidizer to the thrusters failed to open, leaving the satellite stranded in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), which is unsuitable for its intended navigation function.
Despite the setback, ISRO is analyzing the situation to explore potential corrective measures. The agency remains committed to advancing India’s independent space-based navigation capabilities.
