ISRO Chief Says GSAT-6A ‘Not Out of Control’, May Reconnect Soon

GSAT-6A was launched by ISRO from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Thursday.

The GSLV-F08/GSAT-6A satellite.

(Photo: isro.gov)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday, 1 April, confirmed that it had lost contact with communication satellite GSAT-6A, which was launched earlier this week. Efforts to re-establish contact with the satellite are underway, officials told PTI.

Hopeful of retrieving the satellite, the ISRO chief was quoted by the Times of India as saying, "GSAT-6A is not out of control and we still hope we can re-establish contact with the satellite." On the location of the satellite, he said, "We know the approximate location of the satellite in space by using other satellites and other resources."

ISRO launched communication satellite GSAT-6A from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Thursday, 29 March, with much fanfare. ISRO’s announcement comes after speculation about the health of the satellite after a customary official statement on the maneuver did not happen.

A source, speaking to The Times of India, said “second orbit-raising exercise around 10 am went off well, with the liquid apogee motor (LAM) firing as planned”, but there were “hitches in communication” a few minutes later.

ISRO Chairman K Sivan reportedly chaired a marathon meeting about the same with the top scientists of the organisation.

The GSAT-6A is a high power S-band communication satellite configured to provide a platform for developing technologies with its key responsibility being providing mobile communication and carries a mission life of about 10 years.

(With inputs from The Times of India, PTI)