ISRO Releases Detailed Report on NVS-02 Satellite Launch Technical Issues

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a detailed report on the technical issues faced during the NVS-02 satellite launch. An Apex Committee investigated the failure, identifying key technical causes and recommending improvements for future missions. The report highlights the unsuccessful attempt to transition the satellite from an elliptical to a circular orbit and outlines the corrective measures implemented in subsequent launches. This comprehensive analysis aims to enhance the reliability of ISRO's future space missions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 10:26 IST

ISRO's Findings on NVS-02 Launch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) published a comprehensive report on Wednesday regarding the technical malfunction encountered during the orbit-raising of the NVS-02 spacecraft. An Apex Committee formed by ISRO conducted an in-depth investigation into the reasons behind this failure and recommended significant corrective measures for future missions.

Incident Overview

On January 29, 2025, the NVS-02 satellite was launched into space via the GSLV-F15 rocket. The rocket successfully placed the satellite into its designated elliptical orbit (170x37,785 km). After the satellite separated, its solar panels were deployed, but complications arose when attempting to transition from the elliptical orbit to a circular orbit.

Orbit-Raising Attempt Unsuccessful

ISRO reported that the attempt to raise the orbit from elliptical to circular was unsuccessful. Following this malfunction, an Apex Committee was established to investigate the observations and recommend further actions. Based on telemetry and simulation studies, the committee identified the technical reasons behind the issue.

Technical Causes Identified by the Apex Committee

In its findings, ISRO stated that after thoroughly analyzing the simulation data, the Apex Committee concluded that the primary cause of the malfunction was that the drive signal did not reach the oxidizer line's pyro valve, which was intended for orbit-raising. The committee also determined that a likely reason was the disconnection of at least one contact in both the main and redundant connector paths.

Recommended and Implemented Improvements

ISRO mentioned that the committee recommended measures to enhance the redundancy and reliability of the pyro system operation for future missions. These improvements were successfully implemented in the CMS-03 spacecraft, launched on November 2, 2025, via LVM-3 M5, where the pyro system functioned effectively, placing the satellite into the intended orbit. The space agency further stated that these recommendations will be adhered to in all upcoming missions where applicable.