ISRO’s ‘AzaadiSAT’ Mission Unsuccessful As SSLV-D1 Satellites Placed In Wrong Orbit
ISRO’s launch of SSLV-D1 turned out to be unsuccessful as the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle placed the satellites into an elliptical orbit instead of a circular one.
According to ANI, ISRO revealed in an official statement about the unsuccessful placement of satellites in orbit, “SSLV-D1 manoeuvred the satellites into a 356kx76km elliptical orbit rather than a 356km circular orbit. Satellites are no longer usable”.
“The problem has been correctly identified. The deviation was caused by a logic failure to identify a sensor failure and proceed with a salvage action. A committee would investigate and make recommendations. ISRO will release SSLV-D2 as soon as the recommendations are implemented.”
The SSLV was ISRO’s newest rocket, carrying an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-02) and a student-built satellite called AzaadiSAT. Yesterday’s launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The AzaadiSAT was created to mark our country’s 75th anniversary of independence. It was made up of 75 payloads built by 750 students from 75 rural government schools across the country.
Where did things go wrong?
According to ISRO Chairman S Somanath, both SSLVs carrying the Earth Observation Satellite were successfully injected; however, the orbit achieved was lower than expected, making it unstable.
Furthermore, he stated that the SSLV-D1 experienced data loss near the end of the mission. They were analysing the data to determine the mission’s final outcome in terms of achieving a stable orbit.
Girls involved in the satellite’s design were able to watch the SSLV-D1 launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre’s viewing gallery.