A newly launched Indian navigation satellite, NVS-02, is currently stranded in a transfer orbit following a propulsion system malfunction. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported on February 2nd that a thruster failure is preventing the spacecraft from reaching its designated orbital position. According to an ISRO statement, “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.”
Launched on January 28th (Eastern time) via a Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, NVS-02 was intended for a geostationary transfer orbit. Data from the U.S. military's Space Track catalog shows the satellite remains in a similar orbit, with a low perigee increasing the risk of atmospheric drag and potential re-entry.
ISRO confirmed that other systems, including the solar panels, are functioning correctly. However, the statement implies that efforts to restore the propulsion system have been abandoned. “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 stated. The low perigee poses a significant risk of imminent reentry.
NVS-02, based on ISRO’s I-2K satellite bus, had a launch mass of 2,250 kilograms. It was meant to operate at 111.75 degrees east in GEO, replacing IRNSS-1E. The satellite is part of India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) program, designed to provide positioning, navigation, and timing services. NVS-01, the first satellite in this series, launched successfully in 2023 and is currently operational.