New Delhi:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman AS Kiran Kumar on Thursday confirmed that the mission to launch India's eighth navigation satellite, ‘IRNSS-1H' from the second launch pad at the spaceport of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota was unsuccessful.
The 1425-kg satellite was expected to expand the existing seven satellites of the NavIC constellation. The launch vehicle PSLV-C39 lifted the satellite on Thursday using the 'XL' variant, of PSLV equipped with six strap-ons, each carrying 12 tons of propellant.
The three phases of the launch went smoothly, but unfortunately, the heat shield which was supposed to be separated in the fourth stage could not be detached.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) began the 29-hour countdown for the launch on Wednesday at 2 PM. The Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) had on August 29 cleared the countdown.
Here are the live updates:
ISRO chairman addresses media:
#7:43 PM: Satellite got separated internally but it is enclosed within the heat shield, fourth stage
#7:41 PM: There is no problem in any of the stages, but heat shield has to separate and once that happens it gets into the orbit.
#7:39 PM: Launch mission has not succeeded. Heat shield has not separated as a result of which satellite is inside the 4th stage.
#7:30 PM
#WATCH: ISRO Chairman addresses a press conference https://t.co/D9R2qDP5sO
— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017
#7:28 PM
ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar says navigation satellite IRNSS-1H mission from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota was unsuccessful
#WATCH: ISRO launches navigation satellite IRNSS-1H carried by PSLV from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/KlfmbyDIMZ
— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017
#7:20 PM
Range Operation Director: 'Payload could not be separated'
#7:15 PM
Variation in flight operation, awaiting an announcementÂ
#7:09 PM
Vehicle coasting normal, third stage successful, PS4 engine ignited
#7:07 PM
Third stage action completed, the vehicle going through coasting phase
#7:06 PM
The third stage performance is normal
#7:05 PM
Second stage engine shut off, payload separated successfully, the third stage ignited
#7:04 PM
Range 205 kilometers now, second stage performance normal
#7:03 PM
The first stage has been successfully separated, the second stage performance is normal
#7:01 PM
ISRO launches IRNSS-1H from Sriharikota
ISRO launches navigation satellite IRNSS-1H carried by PSLV from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh pic.twitter.com/MBacvOwFp0
— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017
#7:00 PM
The live telecast has started on the official website of ISRO and DD News
#6:52 PM
The launch of Navigation satellite IRNSS-1H from Sriharikota will be live streamed, keep checking this space to watch ISRO IRNSS-1H launch live
#6:50 PM
ISRO is all set to launch India's eighth navigation satellite, IRNSS-1H
IRNSS-1H was supposed to replace IRNSS-1A one of the seven satellites of the constellation, as its three rubidium atomic clocks on board had stopped functioning that plays a crucial role in providing positional information to users on earth.
ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director K. Sivan had said earlier, "The spare or standby satellite will also make up for the non-functioning of the three rubidium atomic clocks on board the first one (IRNSS-1A) and one each in the other two NavIC satellites."
The spacecraft was built and tested by ISRO along with a consortium of six small and medium industries. The IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system developed by India on par with US-based GPS, Glonass of Russia, and Galileo developed by Europe.
Named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 'NavIC' or Navigation with Indian Constellation offers services like terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, navigation aide for hikers and travellers, visual and voice navigation for drivers.
Costing Rs 1,420 crore, ISRO had launched total number of seven satellites - IRNSS-1G on April 28, 2016, IRNSS-1F (March 10, 2016), IRNSS-1E (January 20, 2016), IRNSS-1D (March 28, 2015), IRNSS-1C (October 16, 2014), IRNSS-1B (April 4, 2014) and IRNSS-1A on July 1, 2013.
