Thu 12 August 2021:
An Indian rocket carrying a powerful earth observation satellite failed to launch fully on Thursday, a setback for the country’s space program, according to the state-run space agency.
“GSLV [Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle]-F10 launch took place on August 12, 2021 at 0543 Hrs IST as scheduled. Performance of first and second stages was normal,” the agency said in a statement.
“However, Cryogenic Upper Stage ignition did not happen due to technical anomaly.”
It further said that “the mission couldn’t be accomplished as intended.”
The launch took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
On Wednesday evening, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said the launch is a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite.
“Earth Observation Satellite EOS-03 is an excellent agile Earth Observatory being launched from the second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. It will be placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by GSLV-F10,” Singh said.
“Subsequently, the satellite will reach geostationary orbit using its on-board propulsion system.”
The satellite was expected to provide real-time images of large areas and regions of interest at frequent intervals and help “in quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events as well as any short-term events.”
The EOS-03 was previously known as the GISAT-1 and was originally expected to launch on March 5, 2020. It was postponed, however, due to “technical reasons,” the agency said.
Jonathan McDowell, a U.S.-based astronomer, said the satellite and the rocket probably fell into the Andaman Sea, west of Thailand.
India has built a reputation as a maker of earth imaging satellites and the ability to launch them into low orbits at a fraction of the cost of Western agencies.
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