The Hindu Business Line : Power snag hits W2M satellite built by ISRO, EADS Astrium

A serious in-orbit power failure has hit W2M, the satellite that ISRO and EADS Astrium co-built for Eutelsat. The failure may have jolted the national space agency's dream of gaining a foothold in the global satellite-making market in the glow of its successful lunar mission.

Paris-based Eutelsat reported on January 28 that its new communications satellite had developed a "major anomaly affecting the satellite's power subsystem". "Currently under the control of ISRO, the satellite is undergoing a full technical investigation by ISRO and EADS," its communique said. W2M "does not comply with the requirements set with the spacecraft's manufacturer, EADS Astrium/ISRO Antrix."

Until now, ISRO's satellites - unlike its launchers - have had an almost unsullied record, except for Insat-2D, which had a similar power failure in October 1997. The Ford Aerospace-built Insat-1C was abandoned in November 1989.

`Serious disappointment'

Eutelsat Communications said the failing W2M satellite is fully insured. Its Chairman and CEO, Mr Giuliano Berretta, was quoted as saying "The situation affecting W2M is a serious disappointment for Eutelsat."

It would not take it into its fleet, but continue to rely on its ageing W2 until its next one, W3B, is launched in February next year. Eutelsat is in the top 3 league of satellite operators with a 2008-09 guidance topping ?900 million.

The contract, executed in 26 months, fetched ISRO $33 million (around Rs 165 crore). ISRO was also responsible for the `Launch and Early Orbit Phase' operations from its Master Control Facility at Hassan.

Second order

W2M was ISRO's first, albeit joint, satellite export; Eutelsat got it launched on December 20 on a European launcher. The 3.4-tonne satellite is the biggest one built by the agency at its Bangalore facility. It was supposed to have a life of 15 years. The partners' second order, Hylas, is being built at Bangalore for UK-based Avanti Screen Media.

"This anomaly occurred during the satellite's transfer from the location used for in-orbit tests to its operating position at 16 degrees East where (it) was to replace W2," says Eutelsat's communiqu‚, adding that its operations were intact.

ISRO officials who did not wish to be named said they were grappling with the failure of the satellite, built to some of the strictest specifications and space-standard components. Some simulations were being done. "We are analysing the cause of the anomaly and trying to understand what went wrong," said Mr S. Satish, Director, Publicity & PR, adding that the satellite was almost in the final planned slot when the malfunction happened. "We may have to watch for some more time, may be a week," he told Business Line.

`No complete clarity'

Another official said the space segment and its established players were plagued by such risks. "We don't have complete clarity on the problem right now," he said.

Astrium and Antrix jointly won the bid two years back. Astrium managed the overall programme and supplied the communications payload; ISRO built the satellite on its platform, integrated and tested the satellite with 32 high-power Ku-band transponders for telecommunications and broadcasting services over Europe, West Asia and North Africa.

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