Launched satellites ‘no longer usable’

The Indian Space Research Organization, or ISRO, said on Sunday that two small satellites launched earlier in the day are “no longer usable”. Developed by school students, the Earth Observation Satellite and the AzadiSAT (Independence Satellite) were put into orbit, but the “orbit achieved was less than expected”, the ISRO said. The AzadiSAT was developed by 750 female students to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s independence on Aug 15, according to media reports. After launching the small satellites, the ISRO reported data loss in a later stage.