Innovation
Indian space agency explores backup plans for stranded satellite after thruster failure
The navigation satellite's other systems are functioning properly, according to ISRO.
![The NVS-02 satellite mission launches on January 29 from Sriharikota, a barrier island off India's southeastern coast. [ISRO]](/gc8/images/2025/02/05/49054-india_space-370_237.webp)
By BlueShift |
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is seeking "alternative mission strategies" for a navigation satellite launched in late January after an onboard propulsion system glitch stranded it in an elliptical transfer orbit.
India's NVS-02 satellite, launched January 29, suffered a thruster failure that is keeping the spacecraft from raising its orbit as planned, ISRO said in a statement on February 2.
"The orbit raising operations towards positioning the satellite to the designated orbital slot could not be carried out as the valves for admitting the oxidizer to fire the thrusters for orbit raising did not open," the space agency said.
The satellite's other systems remain fully functional, including the successful deployment of its solar panels, it said.
"The satellite systems are healthy and the satellite is currently in elliptical orbit. Alternate mission strategies for utilizing the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit is being worked out," the space agency said.
1st launch of 2025
The satellite mission was India's first launch of 2025 and ISRO's 100th launch from Sriharikota, a barrier island off India's southeastern coast.
The 2,250kg NVS-02 is the second of five new-generation spacecraft for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). NVS-01 launched in 2023.
The NavIC system is a constellation of seven satellites -- three placed in geostationary orbit at 32.5°E, 83°E and 129.5°E and four placed in inclined geosynchronous orbit with equatorial crossing of 55°E and 111.75°E with inclination of 29°, according to ISRO.
NavIC is designed to provide accurate real-time positioning, velocity and timing services to India and surrounding areas up to about 1,500km beyond Indian territory.
It provides two services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for public use and a Restricted Service for military and strategic users.
SPS signals are interoperable with the other global navigation satellite system signals such as the Global Positioning System, Glonass, Galileo and BeiDou.