Post thruster valve failure, ISRO looks at operating NVS-02 sans orbit-raising

THE Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working on a "plan B" after discovering that the thrusters of the navigation satellite NVS-02 were non-functional due to their valves failing to open to allow the oxidizer to fire the thrusters to enable the satellite to raise to the desired orbit.

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As the thrusters failed to function, the NVS-02 is currently in an elliptical orbit in which the launcher GSLV-F15 launched it on January 29. As all other satellite systems are healthy, alternate strategies for utilising the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit are being worked out.

"The errors have been found and work on reviving it using manual commands is ongoing. It cannot be called a 'failure', but it is a setback," said an ISRO scientist.