Out of 18 such satellites, 13 are working normally
India has lost communication with one of its most advanced satellites: GSAT- 6A within 48 hours of its successful launch from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Despite disappointing news for the country’s citizens and armed forces, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been trying to re-establish link with the satellite.
Following its launch, ISRO had completed the first orbit raising operation of the GSAT-6A Satellite at 9.22 am on Friday, which included the satellite changing its closest and farthest point from earth besides changing its inclination.
According to official sources, the second orbit raising manoeuvre was scheduled for 10.51am on Saturday which was completed successfully. ISRO received data from the satellite for about four minutes after the second orbit raising operation, after which it went blank.
ISRO has not officially confirmed the reason for the lost communication but initial analysis points to a power system failure.
ISRO, in a press release, said the communication link snapped when the satellite was on course to “normal operating configuration for the third and final firing” by the LAM (liquid apogee motor) engine.
The official statement said, “The second orbit raising operation of GSAT-6A satellite has been successfully carried out by LAM Engine firing for about 53 minutes on March 31, 2018 in the morning. After successful long duration firings, when satellite was on course to normal operating configuration for third and final firing, scheduled for April 1, 2018, communication from the satellite was lost. Efforts (were) underway to establish link with satellite.”
The 2140-kg communication satellite GSAT-6A is aimed at helping in mobile communication even from very remote locations through hand-held ground terminals. It was similar to the GSAT-6 put into orbit in 2015.
With a mission life of about 10 years, GSAT-6A is aimed at providing a thrust to mobile communication through multi-beam coverage facility. It is expected to be a shot in the arm for the armed forces.
After the successful launch of the satellite on Thursday, ISRO chairman K Sivan had reportedly said, “In next nine months, we are going to have 10 missions. We will have the launch of high-bandwidth satellites for communication purposes.”
This was the first mission for Sivan, who assumed charge of the space agency in January.
India’s mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 ended in a failure after a technical fault on the final leg following a perfect launch in August last year.
The GSAT are India’s indigenously developed communications satellites, used for digital audio, data and video broadcasting. As of 30 March 2018, 18 GSAT satellites have been launched out of which 13 are currently in service.
ISRO has been developing series of GSAT series of geosynchronous satellites with an objective to make India self-reliant in broadcasting services.