 "Isro’s 100th mission faces hurdle after tech glitch hits NVS-02 satellite. What's wrong?")
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) 100th rocket mission has hit a roadblock after the NVS-02 navigation satellite, launched successfully on Wednesday, encountered a critical technical issue on Sunday.
According to the latest update by the space agency, the satellite’s orbit-raising operations could not proceed as planned due to a valve malfunction. The unexpected glitch has now delayed—or potentially jeopardised—the satellite’s journey to its final intended orbit.
So, what went wrong? What lies ahead for Isro mission? Here’s a closer look.
Why did the mission face a setback?
Following its launch on January 29, the NVS-02 satellite successfully entered a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), an elliptical path typically used as a transition phase before satellites are manoeuvred into their final positions.
However, instead of progressing towards its intended geostationary orbit, the satellite has remained stuck in GTO after the thrusters on board the spacecraft were not able to fire, explained the space agency.
“Subsequent to the launch, the solar panels on board the satellite were successfully deployed and power generation is nominal. Communication with the ground station has been established. But 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,” Isro stated.
Data from an open-source space app, which specialises in space situational awareness, suggests that the NVS-02 has remained in nearly the same position since January 29.
This contradicts Isro’s initial plan to conduct a series of orbit-raising manoeuvres using the satellite’s onboard engines, ultimately placing it at 111.75 degrees east over India.
The satellite’s location was reconfirmed by the app on January 31, when it was tracked over the Indian Ocean between 14:31 and 15:32 UTC from Australia.
Navigation satellites like the NVS-02 need a near-circular orbit to operate optimally. However, with the liquid apogee motor (LAM) unable to fire due to the valve malfunction, Isro now faces a significant challenge in reaching the required orbit.
“The issue with the valve was detected after the launch put the satellite in the GTO. Orbit correction manoeuvres have not been carried out since launch,” a source told The Times of India.
Also read: Isro's 100th mission: GSLV-F15 lifts off successfully
What is the NVS-02 satellite?
NVS-02, or Navigation Satellite-02 is a second of the second generation that has been built as part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), a regional equivalent of the Global Positioning System or GPS.
The regional navigation satellite system has been designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India and for regions up to 1,500 km beyond its borders.
But how did India happen to make its own navigation system? The story is deep-rooted in history.
The NavIC was born out of necessity after the 1999 Kargil War when India realised its reliance on foreign navigation systems could be a vulnerability. During the conflict, India was denied access to high-quality GPS data, prompting then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to push for an indigenous system that would ensure the country’s strategic independence.
Also read: As Isro goes on 100th mission taking India closer to its own GPS NavIC, a timeline of its journey
However, building a reliable navigation system has not been easy. Since 2013, Isro has launched 11 NavIC satellites, but nearly half of them have suffered technical failures. Now, NVS-02 faces a serious malfunction, adding to the programme’s struggles.
Weighing 2,250 kg, the NVS-02 satellite was launched to offer two key services—Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for government and military applications. If fully operational, it could deliver location accuracy better than 20 metres and timing precision within 40 nanoseconds.
But with the latest glitch, the mission is in limbo, leaving Isro in a race against time to find a solution.
What is Isro’s plan B?
Despite the setback, Isro remains optimistic. The space agency has confirmed that the satellite systems are in good shape.
“The satellite systems are healthy and the satellite is currently in elliptical orbit. Alternate mission strategies for utilising the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit is being worked out,” Isro said in a statement.
With input from agencies
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