Indian space research organization (ISRO) recently launched its IRNSS – 1H satellite using the PSLV-C39 launcher. This satellite is stated to be a navigation satellite. Sadly, this launch became a failure due to an undetached heat shield after the second stage, having an impact on the speed and velocity of the rocket. This hugely affected the altitude it was determined to attain. This is the eighth satellite launched in the series of IRNSS.
It was analyzed by the former ISRO central director that “the extra load of the launch vehicle affected the launch mission and affected the velocity reducing the speed by 1 kilometer per hour.” The heat-shield was designed in every perfect way to protect the satellite from the heat caused due to the friction with the air around at the time of take-off.
The process is such that as the rocket moves towards its orbit, the heat shield wears off thus bringing out the satellite. The scientist revealed that the command for detachment of heat shield reached the shield, but it did not provoke the detachment mechanisms, failing the mission. It launched the satellite on the XL configuration, with additional six straps on boosters.
The failure of this IRNSS-1H, launched on the August 31, is deemed to be the first in the PSLV launches that has been done so far, out of its 41 launches, with a small setback of the launch of a satellite in the year 1993. The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite system (IRNSS) had the perfect launch with a normal lift-off, but turned out to be unsuccessful in the mission.
This IRNSS- 1H satellite was launched as a replacement for the IRNSS 1-A navigation satellite as the later one became dysfunctional due to surveillance breakdown. Fortunately, this mission had the launch of only one satellite, which caused only a minor loss. This was launched so that our country need not depend on the American GPS data, thus making the Indian military operations independent. Due to the failure of this mission, India has to wait for the ISRO to launch a new satellite as the recovery period and engineering the new satellite would take some time.
The launch was done from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) with a 29-hour countdown from Wednesday evening. The satellite weighed around 1425 kilograms. This mission is considered special and quite surprising because this is the first time a private sector was involved in the making and constructing of the satellite.
ISRO is the space research company headquartered in Bengaluru with its satellite being launched from Sriharikota. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV’s) has been contributing to the nation’s development by launching around 39 continuous successful satellites. It first launched its first satellite in the year 1993, which faced a setback and turned out to be a failure. However, ISRO has started working on their next satellite launch positively.
This failure has helped ISRO to analyze, rework & iron out all issues that will hamper future launches thus ensuring ISRO stays at the top of their game and go further, far & beyond to become the Number One Space Agency in the World. Failures are the stepping stones to success and this will certainly prove true for ISRO in the coming decades.
