Make Smart ~ISRO confirms it has lost contact with GSAT-6A satellite 48 hours after launch

ISRO confirms it has lost contact with GSAT-6A satellite 48 hours after launch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday confirmed that there was an issue with the all-new GSAT-6A satellite, stating that contact with the satellite was lost 48 hours after its launch. ISRO on Thursday successfully launched the GSAT-6A communication satellite built to provide mobile communication services through multibeam coverage. Reports had stated that ISRO's GSAT-6A satellite was facing some issues in communication after the second-orbit-raising exercise on Friday.

"After successful long-duration firings, when the 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 underway to establish link with satellite," ISRO stated. A report in the Times of India states that the ISRO chairman K Sivan and other scientists involved are holding meetings to fix the issue.

ISRO on Friday confirmed that the first orbit raising operation of GSAT-6A satellite was successfully carried out by LAM engine firing for 2188 seconds from 9:22am IST. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any official update ever since the first orbit raising operation. Also read: ISRO's GSAT-6A launched: Why it is important for India

To recall, India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F08) successfully launched GSAT-6A satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on Thursday. The launch of GSLV was its twelfth and took place from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, which is the spaceport of India. For ISRO, this is the fifth consecutive success achieved by GSLV carrying indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage.

The GSAT-6A is now orbiting the Earth with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 169.4 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 36,692.5 km with an orbital inclination of 20.64 deg with respect to the equator, ISRO's last update on the satellite said.

"In the coming days, the orbit of GSAT-6A will be raised from its present GTO to the final circular Geostationary Orbit (GSO) by firing the satellite's Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) in stages. The Satellite will be commissioned into service after the completion of orbit raising operations and its positioning in the designated slot in GSO following in-orbit testing of its payloads," ISRO said in a statement on Thursday.

Explaining how important the new communication satellite to India is, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said that the purpose of the satellite is to provide mobile communication applications in S-band in five spot beams and C-band in one beam during its 10-year lifespan. ISRO said that the GSAT-6A was similar to the GSAT-6 put into orbit in 2015. 

The GSLV is a three stage/engine rocket. The core of first stage is fired with solid fuel while the four strap-on motors by liquid fuel. The second stage is the liquid fuel-propelled and the third is the cryogenic engine. The new rocket was fitted with electromechanical actuation system in the place of electro-hydraulic actuation system, adding that the electromechanical actuation system was made with ISRO developed space grade lithium-ion (Li-Ion) cells.