ISRO is making an efforts to establish a communication link with the recently launched satellite Gsat-6A. According to ISRO, there are chances for its recovery. The Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) chairman Dr. K Sivan confirmed that they have lost contact with the satellite. They are trying to reestablish contact with it using advanced communication satellite.

ISRO lost communication with GSAT-6A

India’s latest and advanced communication satellite involving military applications GSAT-6A was launched two days before. In an attempt to ignite the engine in a third and last move to the specific location, the Indian Space Research Organization lost communication with the satellite.

It happened after the launch of the satellite from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on March 29.

On Saturday the operation involving the raising of the second orbit was carried out successfully by GSAT-6A. Orbit-raising means placing a satellite in space in its final orbit sequentially with the help of small rocket engines. The satellite is placed in orbit in three phases.

They lost communication when it was on its way to the normal operating configuration for the third and final firing. This operation was scheduled for April 1. But the communication with the satellite was lost and after that nothing was reported by space agency on the health of the satellite.

Last year in August India’s launched a mission for its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39. It ended in a failure due to some technical fault in the satellite. On the final launch of satellite IRNSS-1H, it got jammed in the fourth stage of the rocket.

ISRO Report

ISRO headquartered in Bengaluru reported on its website that they are trying their best to establish contact with the satellite. The ISRO chairman Dr. K Sivan also highlighted the fact that whenever there is any kind of disturbance in the satellite, it automatically goes into “safe mode” and returns back immediately. But this did not happen with GSAT-6A this time.

This was the first mission for Dr. K Sivan, who took hold the space agency charge in January. He further said as soon as a contact will be established with the satellite, it will be helpful for them to perform further operations. Once they get a link with the satellite, it will be possible for them to do recovery.

The last update was given by ISRO on March 30 which claimed that the GSAT-6A Satellite first orbit raising operation has been carried out successfully with the help of Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) Engine.

This engine was fired for 2188 sec on March 30, 2018 at 09:22hr IST. This LAM firing involved the determination of Orbit which includes apogee X perigee height which was changed to 36412 km X 5054 km with Inclination of 11.93 deg and an Orbital period of 12hr 45min.

GSAT-6A

The GSAT-6A having a weight of 2,140-kg along with GSLV-F08 was placed into the orbit successfully after the launch. GSLV-F08 ISRO’s powerful rocket having an indigenous cryogenic engine at the third stage was declared as “magnificent mission” by a senior official of ISRO.

GSAT-6A with the help of its hand-held ground terminals is used for mobile communication all across the world. It is also designed to be used for military purpose. GSAT-6A is designed for a mission life of about 10 years using multi-beam coverage techniques.

It also provides a platform for developing multiple technologies such as demonstration of 6 m S-Band Unfurlable Antenna along with hand-held ground terminals and techniques involving network management which could be helpful for satellite-based mobile communication applications.

GSAT-6A is a compliment of GSAT-6 which is already present in the orbit. Both the satellites will combine together to provide a platform for the development of these advanced technologies.