ISRO Tracks Down Satellite Which Lost Contact After Launch, Hopes To Establish Contact

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said that it has found the exact location of communication satellite GSAT-6A, which had lost contact with the ground station over 48 hours after its launch, Times of India has reported.

According to ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan, the agency is hoping that the satellite will capture the signal from the ground station at a particular orientation and communication will be restored.

GSAT-6A is the country's newest communication satellite designated for military use. According to reports, glitches appeared when the satellite was undergoing the second orbit manoeuvre being controlled from ISRO’s Master Control Facility in Hassan.

Before losing contact, ISRO had completed the first orbit raising operation of the satellite successfully. During the mission, the satellite changed its closest and farthest point from the Earth and its inclination with respect to the equator.

Built to last ten years in space, GSAT-6A would have proved useful for security forces stationed in remote corners of the country. It would have helped personnel send and receive signals from hand-held devices. Currently, troops carry heavy communication equipment to remote locations to remain in touch with command centres.