The Indian Space Research Organisation has suffered a setback as its latest navigation satellite NVS-02 will not reach its intended slot to provide full services owing to the failure of the pyro valve, the first of its kind failure.
This puts into question the efficacy of India’s NavIC — Navigation with Indian Constellation — system.
It also sounds like a warning bugle for ISRO as the same type of pyro valves will be used in the proposed human flight mission Gaganyaan.
The 2,250 kg NVS-02 costing about Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) that was placed in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on January 29, 2025, is stuck there as its pyro valve did not open to pump in the oxidizer to fire the motors.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently suffered a backlash in the key mission of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which recently had a significant achievement in space research (Note: Replace a crucial mission “with a specific mission.
This incident is undoubtedly disappointing, but in space technology,y It is essential to understand the underlying challenges and the proven elasticity of ISRO.
Pyro valves are responsible for starting various separation events, such as key components in rocket systems, stage separation, or payload diplomas. Their credibility is important to the mission’s success.
Failure in such a component can have significant consequences, which can affect the goals of the mission.
The 2,250 kg NVS-02 costing about Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) that was placed in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on January 29, 2025, is stuck there as its pyro valve did not open to pump in the oxidizer to fire the motors.
Only the fuel supply to the motors was present, but without the oxidizer, the fuel could not burn.
“It is a first-of-its-kind failure which was not supposed to happen. Such a failure has not happened earlier for Indian satellites,” a retired ISRO scientist explained.
“The same pyro valves are slated to be used for the proposed Indian human flight mission. It is time for ISRO to further tighten up its quality control aspects,” the retired ISRO official added.
The satellite was stabilized in GTO using its gyro wheels. One of the reasons for the pyro valve not opening is there could be a fault with the electrical connector, it is learned.
“We will be raising the orbit using the thrusters with the available propellant. The satellite’s condition is healthy,” ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan told this reporter. “The satellite will be used for navigation purposes only.”
Recent Pyro Valve failure (again, if possible mission) emphasizes the complex and demanding nature of space technology.
Even with strict examination and quality control measures, unexpected problems arise. Space missions work in extreme conditions and technology must withstand enormous stress, temperature fluctuation,s, and other tough facts.
It is important to remember that any scientific effort, especially in the field of space research, is a part of the face. ISRO, despite its amazing track record, is not supernatural for such challenges. Their commitment to learning from these experiences, thorough research, and implementation of corrective actions in the future will separate ISRO.
ISRO has overcome obstacles in history and is filled with strong examples. The company has a culture of deep awareness that precise analysis, continuous development, and failures are valuable learning opportunities.
The Pyro Valve incident is undoubtedly subject to a detailed post-mortem analysis, experts examine the cause of failure and recognize the ways to increase the credibility of these complex parts.
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