The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has raised the perigee of the orbit of the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS 1D, to about 700km, using the spacecraft's thrusters.
The satellite was placed in a 300km perigee after the partial failure of the fourth stage of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 2 October. ISRO says that, although the orbit is still not fully circular at 820km, "-the craft is is working close enough to substantially achieve its obejctives".
Use of attitude- and orbit-control propellant to raise the orbit, however, will reduce the craft's operational lifetime from three to two years.
Source: Flight International
