India on Thursday will at 7 p.m. launch its navigation satellite IRNSS-1H (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) weighing 1,425 kg with its PSLV rocket. This eighth IRNSS satellite will be the
replacement for IRNSS-1A
as its atomic clocks have failed. [caption id=“attachment_3966645” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
A IRNSS satellite from the NavIC constellation. Image: ISRO.[/caption] The PSLV rocket will sling the IRNSS-1H into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The launch will take place from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, on 31 August at 18:59 Hrs. The 1,400 kg spacecraft has been fabricated with six partners from private industries. The IRNSS-1H is the primary, and only payload on board, unless ISRO is sneaking in
more prototypes of interstellar spacecraft
. The rocket will be flown in the XL configuration, with six additional strap on boosters.
ISRO's PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H mission highlights: Launch fails at last minute after heat shield does not separate
tech2 News Staff
• August 31, 2017, 20:31:44 IST
The launch will take place from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, on 31 August at 18:59 Hrs.
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August 31, 2017, 20:31:44 (IST)
August 31, 2017, 19:50:22 (IST)
August 31, 2017, 19:41:15 (IST)
This failure of the heat shield separation was a relatively minor problem, considering the many successful PSLV missions so far. The PSLV remains one of the most reliable launch vehicles in operation, despite the glitch. India will have to launch another navigation satellite to replace IRNSS-1A.
August 31, 2017, 19:40:27 (IST)
Fortunately, there was only one satellite on board, so the loss has been minimal. AS Kiran Kumar has promised that further details will be provided after ISRO investigates the issue.
August 31, 2017, 19:39:41 (IST)
The satellite separated inside the heat shield, but could not be deployed because of the malfunctioning of the heat shield. All the stages performed as intended, but something went wrong after the command was given to separate the heat shield.
August 31, 2017, 19:37:14 (IST)
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August 31, 2017, 19:33:49 (IST)
All the stages performed as intended, only the heat shield did not separate. ISRO will have to analyse the sequence of events to figure out how the incident will affect future flights.
August 31, 2017, 19:32:53 (IST)
The rocket reached the intended altitude, but the heat shield failed to separate to allow the satellite to be deployed.
August 31, 2017, 19:30:26 (IST)
August 31, 2017, 19:30:06 (IST)
August 31, 2017, 19:29:26 (IST)
If the mission is unsuccessful, it is the first time that the PSLV has failed to deploy its payload since the inaugral flight in 1993.
August 31, 2017, 19:26:28 (IST)
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August 31, 2017, 19:25:29 (IST)
ISRO has stopped the live cast on its site.
August 31, 2017, 19:22:14 (IST)
A look at the Flight Events screen as the burn out of the fourth stage is completed.
August 31, 2017, 19:21:26 (IST)
There seems to be a problem. The heat shield has not separated.
August 31, 2017, 19:20:21 (IST)
We are very close to the point at which the satellite will separate from the rocket.
August 31, 2017, 19:20:12 (IST)
The commands for the fourth stage shutoff and IRNSS-1H separation have been issued.
August 31, 2017, 19:19:13 (IST)
A look at the Ground Trace reading as we approach fourth stage burn out.
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August 31, 2017, 19:12:50 (IST)
A combined reading of the PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H vehicle.
August 31, 2017, 19:11:02 (IST)
The fourth stage has ignited.
August 31, 2017, 19:10:33 (IST)
The burn operation of the fourth stage will last around 8 minutes. The rocket will go from an altitude of 187.312 km to 455.270 km over the course of the fourth stage burn. At the point of fourth stage cut-off, the PSLV will have reached a velocity of 9638.79 metres per second.
August 31, 2017, 19:09:36 (IST)
The path of the rocket closely tracks with the pre-flight predictions.
August 31, 2017, 19:08:59 (IST)
The Director of ISRO A.S.Kiran Kumar (left) overlooking operations.
August 31, 2017, 19:08:37 (IST)
The vehicle is coasting for a little more than 200 seconds after the burnout of the third stage. The fourth stage will ignite next.
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August 31, 2017, 19:08:06 (IST)
The third stage will separate at 10min 6.72 sec, at an altitude of 185.537 km. The fourth stage will ignite at 10min 16.72 sec, at an altitude of 187.312 km.
August 31, 2017, 19:05:07 (IST)
The second stage will separate at 4min 23.08 sec. The third stage will ignite at 4min 24.28 sec.
August 31, 2017, 19:04:43 (IST)
The third stage has ignited, and the performance of the third stage is normal.
August 31, 2017, 19:04:24 (IST)
The IRNSS-1H 20 seconds after lift-off.
August 31, 2017, 19:03:21 (IST)
At 1min 10.1 sec the ground lit strapons will separate, at an altitude of 24.113 km.
August 31, 2017, 19:02:34 (IST)
The liftoff is normal. Two strap on motors will ignite 25 seconds after launch.
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August 31, 2017, 19:02:10 (IST)
The second stage has ignited, and the performance is normal.
August 31, 2017, 19:02:00 (IST)
At 1min 32.0 seconds, the airlit strapons will seperate at an altitude of 40.086 km.
August 31, 2017, 19:01:49 (IST)
We have liftoff!
August 31, 2017, 18:59:01 (IST)
Less than a minute left for the launch.
August 31, 2017, 18:58:55 (IST)
There are three minutes left for the launch.
August 31, 2017, 18:58:27 (IST)
The first solid core stage and four solid strap on motors will ignite together, at launch.
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August 31, 2017, 18:58:05 (IST)
Weather balloons were released prior to the launch in a staggered manner to measure the speeds of winds at various altitutdes. Based on the measurements, a steering program has been fed into the onboard computer of the PSLV, which will guide the rocket through the various layers of the atmosphere.
August 31, 2017, 18:56:52 (IST)
There are five minutes left for the launch.
August 31, 2017, 18:54:22 (IST)
Another look at the IRNSS-1H as we approach lift-off.
August 31, 2017, 18:54:22 (IST)
At the point of IRNSS-1H seperation, the PSLV will be travelling at a speed of 9597.74 meters per second
End of Liveblog