ISRO’s unsuccessful mission
lets understand what happened in the first place during the launch of ISRO’s PSLV C39. PSLV is ISRO’s most successful rocket with 39 consecutive successful launches till date . That’s a big deal in Rocketry . After the launch ISRO chairman A S Kiran declared the mission unsuccessful . The heat shield or the fairing on top of the rocket which was suppose to separate did not!. leaving the satellite trapped inside the heat shield . ISRO says it will be stuck there for long . This was really sad news . Everyone’s mood was spoiled at ISRO. the regular handshakes , smiles after a launch were missing this time . even the commentary stopped on TV . as if ISRO had lost a closed one . many Indians including felt like i was at loss . It wasn’t a great day at all :(.
How did ISRO’s Rocket fail?
Before we understand what happened lets talk about what a Heat Shield or fairing is !. A heat shield as the name says is meant to protect the components inside it . check the image below to understand it ,the fairing is on the right in which the satellite is housed .
pslv heat shield/ fairing
But we need it only during the atmospheric phase to help in aerodynamics shielding. Once we reach space we don not require it since there isn’t any atmosphere present in space . That’s why the Fairing has to jettison or break apart and seprate from the rocket .ISRO’s PSLV in particular seprates the fairng at around 3 minutes 23 seconds from launch when it at around 115kms in Low earth Orbit . The PSLV is at Second stage during the sepration of heat shield .The anomaly was detected at 19 minutes after the fourth stage was over.
This is vital since if the fairing doesn’t separate , then the satellite would be stuck inside and wont get deployed into space. The antennas on the satellite wont be able to extend and also the solar panels wont receive and light . It will all be worth nothing if the heat shield doesn’t sepearte . This applies to every part of the rocket . If one fails the entire launch may be wasted. That’s why Space is not for everyone , only some of the most capable countires have space programs including INDIA . ISRo is a highly experienced and skilled Space organistaion , it will definitely bounce back with all might .
How is Heat shield seprated and ISRO fail on debut launch
Most of ISRO’s debut launches have failed except the GSLV . how was this a debut launch? ISRO had set up a private consortium to build satellites and rockets . this Satellite in particular was built by a defence company in India. There are various ways you can do it .Some use thrusters mounted on the fairing , while some use small rockets and many other ways . just google em!! :).
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