Initial Assessment & Causes
When a satellite disappears, the first step is to thoroughly investigate the circumstances. Former ISRO engineers and current professionals in the field
would start by scrutinizing telemetry data received from the satellite and the rocket, looking for anomalies or deviations from the planned trajectory. They would try to figure out whether the satellite experienced a sudden failure, a gradual degradation, or was simply not deployed correctly. The investigation process would look at the launch vehicle's performance. The satellite's design, operational parameters, and any environmental factors would also come under scrutiny. Depending on the type of failure, a committee or a team of experts would be formed to conduct a formal review. This review would cover all aspects of the mission, from pre-launch preparations to in-flight operations, to pinpoint the root cause of the satellite loss.
Technical Challenges Faced
Tracking and retrieving a lost satellite is an extremely challenging endeavor due to several technical hurdles. Locating the missing satellite in the vastness of space can be difficult, especially if the last signal was weak or if there were no signals at all. Furthermore, the satellites operate in extreme environments where temperature fluctuations, radiation, and vacuum conditions add complexity. Any malfunction could be related to these conditions. When a satellite goes silent, engineers would need to perform extensive simulations and analyses to determine its likely state. This would involve using sophisticated software and complex models. If there is a chance of recovery, they may try to send commands to the satellite, but this depends on a good communication link, which is not always possible when a spacecraft is in an unintended orbit. Even if located, the process of recovery is complex, and may not be feasible.
Impact on Future Missions
Losing a satellite has significant consequences, especially for future space missions. These events serve as crucial learning opportunities. The findings from failure analyses provide invaluable insights into design improvements, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. Each satellite failure forces the space agency to revisit the mission design and operational procedures, which may involve re-evaluating the choice of launch vehicle, the redundancy in satellite systems, or the robustness of software. Such failures also influence mission planning, resource allocation, and the overall risk management strategy. Lessons learned also improve engineering techniques and operational practices, which can increase the reliability and success rate of future missions. This helps minimize risks and enhance the performance of all future space endeavours.
Post-Incident Investigation
After a satellite is lost, a comprehensive post-incident investigation would commence. This would involve a meticulous review of all available data and a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the failure. A team of experts, including engineers, scientists, and mission specialists, would scrutinize telemetry data, operational logs, and hardware performance records. This process would often involve recreating the sequence of events and creating failure models. The primary goal of the investigation is to identify the root cause of the incident and any contributing factors. The findings from such investigations are used to implement corrective actions. These actions will focus on improving the design, manufacturing, testing, and operations of future satellite missions.
