3 days ago
From The Hindu, June 2, 1975: Space programme not hit by snags in Aryabhata
Madras, June 1: The Indian space satellite programme would not be affected because of the difficulties experienced in the functioning of Aryabhata, Prof. Satish Dhawan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said here to-day.
Prof. Dhawan said that the malfunctioning of some of the equipment on board the Aryabhata was due to the failure of the 'power transistor' system. The fault was detected by the ISRO scientists after careful scrutiny of the material received by Mission Control at Bangalore.
These scientists were now working round the clock studying the possibility of reviving the experiments. Even such 'drastic steps' like sending electronic pulses to activate the instruments abroad the satellite were being considered. But it was too early to say whether 'we will succeed in this task,' Prof. Dhawan said.
Tracing the initial difficulties encountered by the satellite immediately after it was launched, he said even after a few orbits, it started 'tumbling' and did not 'spin' as expected. The satellite was made of non-magnetic material but even then there was some drag on it, thereby slowing it down. The latest information was that it was normal and orbiting according to the programme, he said.
