Desk:ISRO’s 100th rocket mission encountered a technical issue after the launch on Wednesday. The 2250 kg NavIC satellite, which is part of India’s regional navigation system, faced difficulties when its ‘thrusters’ failed to function properly. The satellite, NVS-02, could not be placed into the intended orbit, as reported by ISRO on Sunday.
Launched on January 29 via the GSLV-MK 2 rocket, NVS-02 was meant to support India’s space-based navigation system. However, the malfunctioning thrusters hindered the mission’s success. Despite the setback, ISRO confirmed that the satellite’s system is healthy, and it is currently in an elliptical orbit. The agency is working on alternative strategies to make use of the satellite for navigation purposes.
This marks a significant moment for the NavIC series, which has faced challenges since its inception in 2013. Out of the 11 satellites launched so far, six have been partially or fully unsuccessful. NavIC was developed in response to India’s need for a regional navigation system after GPS data was denied during the Kargil war in 1999.
