ISRO’s 100th Rocket Mission Faces Setback as NVS-02 Navigation Satellite Encounters Technical Glitch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a major hurdle in its 100th rocket mission after the NVS-02 navigation satellite, launched aboard GSLV-F15 on January 29, encountered a technical glitch. While the satellite was successfully injected into the intended geosynchronous transfer orbit, its orbit-raising operations were stalled due to a failure in the oxidizer valve, preventing the thrusters from firing. This issue has delayed or potentially derailed its journey to the designated orbital slot.

Despite the setback, ISRO confirmed that the satellite’s systems are healthy, with successfully deployed solar panels and established communication with ground stations. The organization is now exploring alternative mission strategies to utilize the satellite in its current elliptical orbit. Space experts, however, believe that the satellite may not be able to perform its designated functions from this orbit, which ranges from approximately 170 km at the closest point to 36,577 km at its farthest from Earth.

The NVS-02, weighing 2,250 kg and developed by the U R Rao Satellite Centre, was part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) program—a regional alternative to GPS. NavIC was initiated after India was denied high-quality GPS data during the 1999 Kargil war. Then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee committed to developing an independent navigation system for India’s strategic and civilian needs. However, NavIC has faced multiple setbacks, with six out of eleven launched satellites either partially or fully failing.

This mission was also the first under ISRO Chairman V Narayanan. The satellite was designed to enhance navigation capabilities across terrestrial, aerial, and maritime applications, including precision agriculture. While ISRO has yet to confirm whether NVS-02 will still serve its intended purpose, the incident marks another challenge for India's indigenous navigation system.

With this setback, ISRO’s ambitious efforts to establish a self-reliant positioning system have once again faced obstacles. However, given the organization's track record of overcoming challenges, solutions may emerge to ensure that the mission's objectives are at least partially met.