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by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor
India’s new Small Satellite tv for pc Launch Automobile did not orbit two small satellites on Sunday after its fourth stage engine failed to fireside as deliberate, stranding the 2 Earth commentary satellites in an unstable elliptical orbit from which they later burned up within the Earth’s environment.
The fourth stage, referred to as the Velocity Trimming Module (VTM), was designed to put the spacecraft right into a round orbit 356 km excessive. As an alternative, the spacecraft ended up in a 356 by 76 km after separating from the module, the chairman of the Indian Area Analysis Organisation (ISRO) mentioned. The failure got here after the primary three levels carried out as designed.
In a video posted on the company’s web site, ISRO Chairman Shri S. Somanath mentioned the fourth stage’s on-board laptop didn’t understand a vital sensor on VTM had failed, so it was unable to take corrective motion so the stage fired as deliberate.
ISRO misplaced the EOS-02 Earth commentary microsatellite within the failed launch. The second payload was AzaadiSAT, a student-built Earth commentary spacecraft equipped by Area Kidz India.
Somanath mentioned ISRO was glad that SSLV’s first three levels had carried out nominally on SSLV’s first flight take a look at after liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Area Heart.
SSLV is designed to put payloads weighing 500 kg (1,102 lb) into low Earth orbit and 300 kg (661 lb) into solar synchronous orbit. It’s designed as India’s entry into the small-satellite launch market. The rocket is designed to be assembled and launched shortly and inexpensively.
SSLV was the primary failure amongst six new launch automobiles which have flown this yr.
New Launch Automobile Flights, 2022
| Date | Launch Automobile | Launch Supplier | Launch Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2022 | Lengthy March 6A | CASC (China) | Taiyuan | Upgraded Lengthy March 6 with two first stage engines and 4 solid-rocket boosters |
| April 29, 2022 | Angara-1.2 | Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation (RVSN RF) | Plesestk | First orbital flight; suborbital take a look at performed in 2014 |
| June 21, 2022 | Nuri (KSLV-II) | KARI (South Korea) | Naro | First profitable flight, maiden launch failed in 2021 |
| July 13, 2022 | Vega C | Arianespace (Europe) | Europe’s Spaceport (French Guiana) | Upgraded model of Vega booster with 50% extra payload capability; constructed by Avio |
| July 27, 2022 | ZK-1A (Lijian-1) | CAS Area (China) | Jiuquan (China) | Profitable maiden flight; business spinoff of Chinese language Academy of Sciences |
| Aug. 7, 2022 | Small Satellite tv for pc Launch Automobile (SSLV) | ISRO (India) | Satish Dhawan | Failure as a result of fourth stage failing to fireside as deliberate |
China, Europe, Russia and South Korea all performed profitable of latest launchers. SSLV and ZK-1A are new boosters. Lengthy March 6A and Vega C are considerably upgraded variations of present launch automobiles. Angara 1.2 made its first orbital flight; a downgraded model of the rocket efficiently flew suborbital in 2014. Nuri made its second flight after it failed throughout its maiden launch final September.
The world has entered a busy stretch the place at the very least 26 new rockets are launching for the primary time. You’ll be able to learn extra about this surge in launch automobiles right here: Launchapalooza: 26 New Boosters Debuting Worldwide.
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