Euro satellite glitch: ISRO still shooting in the dark

ISRO,having enjoyed great success with indigenous satellites,had made its first foray into the big business of satellite exports with the W2M project that fetched the agency $33 million in a contract jointly executed with EADS of Europe.

While a major power system glitch has been reported in ISRO-built satellite systems in the past — in the Insat-2D in 1997 — senior officials in the agency said the problems that are threatening to bring down the W2M “are totally different”.

“Investigations are still on to pinpoint the problem. We have not been able to do that yet,” the official said.

“A serious anomaly has occurred. Ground simulations are underway through the ISRO satellite centre and the Master Control Facility to put the satellite back on track,” Director,Publicity & PR at ISRO,S Satish,said.

ISRO officials refused to comment on the impact of W2M failure on ISRO’s efforts to be a major player in the space business.

Eutelsat reported the failure of the W2M satellite,launched by the European Space Agency on December 20,2008,through a communiqué on January 28 this year.

“Currently under the control of ISRO,the satellite is undergoing a full technical investigation by ISRO and EADS,” the communiqué said while also stating that the satellite was not to the specification given to ISRO-EADS.

The chairman and CEO of Eutelsat,Giuliano Berretta,has been quoted as saying the W2M situation “is a serious disappointment for Eutelsat.”

The 3,463 ton W2M satellite is one of the biggest satellites built by ISRO in collaboration with EADS. The agencies had won the bid two years ago. They are in the process of executing a second satellite export for the UK-based Avanti Screen Media.

ISRO officials have admitted that the chances of revival of W2M are slim.