Loose connection made satellite miss orbit: panel, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The NVS-02 satellite launched by ISRO on January 29, 2025, failed to reach its intended orbit due to a faulty connection.
• A committee report revealed that the signal to activate a crucial valve in the engine's oxidiser line was disrupted.
• The failure was attributed to a loose or failed connection in the electrical connector of both primary and back-up lines.
• Recommendations to enhance redundancy and reliability were implemented in the CMS-03 spacecraft, launched on November 2, 2025.

Detailed Insights:

• The NVS-02 was successfully placed in an elliptical transfer orbit, but the subsequent transfer to a circular orbit failed.
• The faulty connection prevented the engine from firing, which is necessary to raise the spacecraft's orbit.
• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India's regional satellite navigation system, and NVS-02 was intended to be its second satellite.
• The CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) is a communication satellite critical for the Navy's space-based communications and maritime domain awareness.
• A committee including K. Vijayraghavan and S. Somanath will investigate systemic issues related to failures of ISRO’s PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle).

Key Concepts Involved:

• Oxidiser: A chemical that provides oxygen for combustion in a rocket engine.
• Redundancy: The duplication of critical components or functions of a system with the intention of increasing reliability.
• Satellite Navigation: A system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning.