Launch failure not due to overloading, says ISRO chairman
What's the story
Following the failure of ISRO's PSLVC39 rocket to launch India's eighth navigation satellite IRNSS-1H, the space agency has been investigating the failure. However, yesterday ISRO chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar confirmed that the failure was not due to overloading of the rocket as reported earlier by TOI. Let us find out more about the reasons behind the unsuccessful launch.
Failure
Heat shield detachment resulted in failure
The TOI report had alleged that ISRO had overloaded PSLVC39 rocket with one tonne of extra weight The ISRO chief dismissed the report's claims and cited other reasons behind the failure. He said that the PSLVC39's heat shield had failed to detach in the second stage and went along till the fourth stage separation point, thus adding extra weight and dragging the rocket down.
Quote
ISRO did not overload the rocket
"The report is incorrect and the rocket was not carrying any extra load. It [the failure] was not because ISRO put any additional weight prior to the launch," explained the ISRO chief.
Satellite
Ninth navigation satellite to be launched soon
The IRNSS-1H was set to replace India's first navigation satellite IRNSS-1A. The three atomic clocks on board the IRNSS-1A had stopped last year, and the satellite thus needed replacement. However, following Thursday's failure, ISRO has initiated the process for quickly launching a standby ninth navigational satellite- the IRNSS-1l. The IRNSS-1l is set to be launched soon.