Indian Space Research Organisation's tryst with history suffered a setback on Sunday, as the maiden Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) placed satellites in elliptical orbit instead of circular orbit. "Satellites are no longer usable," ISRO tweeted on their official handle.
"SSLV-D1 placed the satellites into 356 km x 76 km elliptical orbit instead of 356 km circular orbit. Satellites are no longer usable. Issue is reasonably identified. Failure of a logic to identify a sensor failure and go for a salvage action caused the deviation," they wrote.
The ISRO further said, "A committee would analyse and recommend. With the implementation of the recommendations, ISRO will come back soon with SSLV-D2."
The SSLV-D1 suffered "data loss" at the terminal stage, although three stages "performed and separated" as planned and the scientists were analysing the data to ascertain the cause behind it.
On Sunday morning, in its mission to place an earth observation satellite and students satellite into the low earth orbit, the SSLV-D1/EOS-02 blasted off precisely at 9.18 am amid cloudy skies from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in this spaceport.
The 34-metre long rocket soared majestically on completion of its nearly seven-and-half-hour countdown on Sunday.
The scientists at the Mission Control Centre gave updates about the health of the rocket soon after lift-off.
Screens at the Media Centre showed that the satellite was well on its trajectory before suffering "data loss" as described by Chairman S Somanath.
"All stages performed as expected. The first stage performed and separated, second stage performed and separated, the third stage also performed and separated, and in the terminal phase of the mission, some data loss is occurring and we are analysing the data and we will comeback on the status of the satellites as well as the vehicle performance soon," he said from the Mission Control Centre, minutes after the launch.
A jubilant mood at the Mission Control Centre soon made way to anxiety as scientists were seen glued to the computer screens and confused, before Somanath updated the mission status.
There has been no official word on whether the mission was successful, as currently scientists were analysing the data from the rocket and so far there has been no official confirmation on the success of the mission.
From the screens displayed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, it was seen that the two satellites -- Earth Observation Satellite and the AzaadiSAT -- got separated as planned.
After establishing itself with successful launches of various satellites using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLV), ISRO had targeted the SSLV market which places the satellites into 500 kms low earth orbit.
The Earth Observation Satellite EOS-02 and the co-passenger student satellites AzaadiSAT are the major payloads for the SSLV.
Space Kidz India
The EOS-02 is an experimental optical remote sensing satellite with a high spatial resolution. Its is to realise and fly an experimental imaging satellite with a short-turnaround time and to demonstrate launch-on-demand capability. EOS-02 belongs to the microsatellite series of space crafts.
The AzaadiSAT is a 8U Cubesat weighing around 8kgs. It carries 75 different payloads each weighing around 50grams. Girl students from rural regions across the country were provided guidance to build these payloads.
The payloads are integrated by the student team of 'Space Kidz India'. The ground system developed by 'Space Kidz India' will be utilised for receiving the data from this satellite, ISRO said.
AzaadiSAT built by 750 students
To mark the country's celebrations of "Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav", the SSLV had a co-passenger satellite called "AzaadiSAT" comprising 75 payloads built by 750 students from 75 rural government schools across India.
Girls who designed Satelite are in Sriharikota witnessed the SSLV-D1 launch today.
Earlier speaking to ANI, Shreya a student from St Francis Girls High School, Telangana said, "Three groups from our school have participated in this SSLV launch. I am very glad that we got this opportunity. We really worked hard on it and today we will witness the launch of the AzaadiSAT satellite." A student from the same school, Zoha Anam thanked her teachers and said it is a lifetime moment.
"This project gave us an opportunity to explore spacecraft and aeronautics. It inspires girls to pursue careers in space. This shouldn't have been possible without our teacher's efforts. It is indeed a great movement for all of us as we come here to witness this phenomenal event," Anam said.
Expressing gratitude to the Central government, another student from the same school, Genevieve Thomas said it is a memorable and proud moment for Telangana.
"We are here today for satellite launch. This is the Central government's project and we're celebrating 'Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. We are really proud that we are here. We worked hard for this moment. really. We are also proud that our state Telangana has come so far. Thankful to the central government for encouraging girls," Thomas said.
Founder and CEO, science and tech incubator Space Kidz India, Dr Srimathy Kesan said this launch is to mark the 75th year of independence and to bring the focus that girls should be encouraged.
"Extremely privileged to be here, hardly people get this opportunity. We are launching our SSLV Satellite which was built by girls students and is a dream for millions," Dr Kesan said.
