No contact with satellite, Isro suspects power failure

Mission life Intended orbit above ground level

Scientists from Indian Space Organisation (ISRO) are trying to figure out why they lost communication with the satellite on Saturday two days after its launch.

Power failure is the most likely cause, according to officials.

“When communication fails, the first thought is power failure, however one failure can trigger others, so we cannot be sure,” said a senior official from ISRO, on condition of anonymity.

The satellite might have gone into a “safe mode.”

“Usually what happens when there is a power glitch, the satellite goes into a safe mode to avoid any further catastrophe. After this usually we are able to establish communication, but this time it did not happen,” said K Sivan, chairman, ISRO.

After a perfect launch on Thursday, ISRO lost contact with GSAT-6A on Saturday while manoeuvring the satellite in the orbit.

There were three planned orbit raising manoeuver after the launch to change the satellites

NEWDELHI:

Unreachable

ISRO says link with the satellite was lost while on course for the final orbiting manoeuvre. There was a long silence from ISRO after the second orbit-raising operation was successful

Satellite’s objective

The satellite is meant assist to the development of hand-held devices that can be used in remote areas. It has been launched to complement the GSAT-6, launched in 2015

There’s still hope

ISRO says it continues efforts to establish a link with the satellite. The GSAT-6A can be placed in its intended orbit only after the communication is re-established

ISRO's GSLV-F08 carrying GSAT-6A blasts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota