Indian space agency ISRO’s latest mission, PSLV-C62, has failed to reach orbit, marking the second consecutive failure for the space agency in recent times. According to reports, only one of the 16 satellites on board, a technology demonstrator called ‘KID’ from Spanish company Orbital Paradigm, was successfully separated and sent data back to Earth.
Initially, it was reported that all the satellites on board, including the critical defense surveillance satellite Anveshak, had been lost. However, Orbital Paradigm has confirmed that its KID capsule not only separated from the rocket but also successfully transmitted data. The company has stated that despite the challenges faced, KID has successfully completed its mission, and the details of its flight are being re-determined.
KID is a technology demonstrator designed to test the re-entry capability of a satellite into Earth’s atmosphere. The satellite was part of a larger mission that included 15 other satellites, including the EOS-04 Earth Observation Satellite, the DRDO’s Anveshak surveillance satellite, the ISRO’s Aiolos and Dhruva Sat-Pakshi satellites, and student-developed satellites.
According to ISRO, the mission failed due to a malfunction in the rocket’s third stage, which caused it to deviate from its planned trajectory. The third stage of the rocket was powered by strap-on motors, which failed to provide the necessary thrust, causing the rocket to veer off course.
Meanwhile, news emerges from around the world, including Germany, Sweden, France, and Norway, which have confirmed that they will be sending troops to Greenland for a joint military exercise. American officials have stated that an increase in Venezuela’s oil exports is expected in the coming days and weeks. Russia is rapidly transforming a large area in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region into a significant military base. The Henley Passport Index has released its list of the world’s most powerful passports for the first half of this year.
