GSAT-6A, the newest communication satellite went incommunicado in space on Saturday. Officials of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reaffirmed on Sunday that they are trying to restore the link with the satellite.
The silence is initially believed to have been caused by a power glitch or a short circuit on the satellite. Built to last 10-12 years, it was to be a standby for its three-year-old replica GSAT-6.
The spacecraft, launched on March 29, was meant to support military communications in hostile regions using handy ground terminals.
ISRO Chief Hopeful
ISRO Chairman K. Sivan who has undertaken his mission after taking charge, said, “Going by preliminary data, we expect that we will be able to recover the satellite. Its systems are in good health. Our teams are working round the clock to re-establish contact with the satellite. We are trying through our ground stations across the world.” “Functionally, there would be no shortage or disturbance as GSAT-6 was at work for some more year”, he further added.
