It is not a good time for the Indian Space Research Organisation. Two successive failures, just months apart, of the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) raise serious questions about this rocket. Only once before has the space agency faced such a situation. That was in the late 1980s when the first two launches of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) were unsuccessful. A thorough analysis of the rocket after its second failure in July 1988 revealed a basic design flaw. Understanding the ASLV problem contributed to the success of its successor, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Shaking off the failure of its first launch in 1993, the PSLV has turned into a rugged workhorse that can launch multiple satellites and undertake a variety of missions. The GSLV uses the giant solid-propellant first stage of the PSLV as well as the latter's second stage equipped with a Vikas engine that runs on liquid propellants. In the GSLV, the top two stages of the PSLV have been replaced with a cryogenic stage and the latter's six solid-propellant strap-ons with four Vikas-engine-based ones. These changes allow the GSLV to carry much heavier payloads into orbit. However, it has thus far turned out to be trouble-prone. In its seven flights, it has notched up three failures and one partial success; by contrast, the PSLV, over 17 launches, has had just one failure and one partial success.
The GSLV launch in April this year was unsuccessful because of problems with the indigenous cryogenic stage, which was being flown for the very first time. According to ISRO officials, Saturday's failure occurred because commands from the rocket's onboard computers were not reaching systems in the first stage that control its orientation. Like the PSLV, the GSLV has two sets of wires that relay electrical commands from its onboard computers so that even if one set does not work for some reason, the other set is available as a backup. On Saturday, connectors on both sets of wires are thought to have snapped. That simply should not have happened and raises questions about what led to such an occurrence. Was it because the vehicle was subjected to unforeseen levels of stress, perhaps as a result of extreme vibrations? If so, what caused such stress in this flight? The failure analysis will doubtless address these and other issues. The space agency has just one more Russian-built cryogenic stage left of the seven that it bought. It is therefore vital that problems with the GSLV, including its indigenous cryogenic stage, are sorted out expeditiously. ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan has promised a thorough review of the GSLV programme. That is most certainly needed.
Keywords: GSLV, ISRO, K. Radhakrishnan, cryogenic stage, PSLV, space programme
Comments:
Why India is not shining even all conditions are favourable.All Government Bodies are highly corrupt & Intrestingly there is no mechanism to improve. GSLV failure proves that, it still need that commitment..Of course ISRO chief is not paying from his pocket for all incurred losses. Tax payers are paying through their noses for all Corruption, Project Failures and High Salaries of Politicians and Governament Officials ......What answer we can expect from Government?
such accidents are not new in space science ,ESPECIALLY WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY. even NASA WITH BIG BUDGET AND ADVANCE TECHNOLOGIES HAS FAILED MANY TIMES.WE NEED TO RECTIFY TECHNICAL FAULTS AND GO AHEAD WITH BETTER PLANNING.
ISRO should promote private sector involvement in Space exploration in India. We could set up competitions similar to the X Prize for the cryogenic engine.
The sabotage of India's space program is but one part of the sabotage of India's defence and economy. I am India's expert in strategic defence and the father of India's strategic program including the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program and in my blog titled 'Nuclear Supremacy for India Over U.S.', which can be found by a Yahoo search with the title, I have described who has been committing this sabotage and how. But for this sabotage, India at this moment will have nuclear supremacy over the United States and economic superiority over the United States on a per capita basis.
Since the C.I.A. has been committing the above sabotage directly as well as through RAW and the Tamil snakes such as K. Subrahmanyam, the Tamil snakes at Bharat-Rakshak have started a thread titled 'Saudi Arabia and Its Impact on Indian Security' to divert attention from the C.I.A. as the enemy and make Saudi Arabia the enemy instead.
Satish Chandra
Failure of three successive GSLV is unfortunate for ISRO. GSLV is cryogenic engin based launch vechicle, which can put many heavy satallite into deep space.Failure of GSLV is also set back for Indian space market,future space program and intercontinental missiles.we can hope that the next launch will be successful, but before that research on causes failure is necessary.
Failures are stepping stones to success. As scientists have pointed out that cryogenic engine technology is a complex one and will take time to master, such failures are expected in the run-up. We had been denied this technology by the US, they even pressured the Russians eventually led to cancellation of technology transfer deal, on the assumption that we would use it on missiles. So far none of our missiles use this.
If we are to master this technology, we will enter a multi billion dollar commercial market, which obviously the 'capitalist' US is not comfortable with.
A thorough review is essential, but it would be too early to question the effectiveness of the engines.
Reasons are always resonable. But the moot point is, before execution of any project the normal practice is to test it under severe circumstances, which include severe vibration (i think).
Any way, my comment or your editorial is not going to help either the GSLV or ISRO. "Failure always leads to success"-though Success is evasive.
A one of incident like failure of a GSLV vehicle can not mar the reputation that ISRO has earned. The fact that most of their scientific achievements in past decades have come in spite of embargo by western nations, make their achievements even higher. The need of the hour is to scrutinize the fallacies and ignore the undue criticism. The entire nation stands by them , for their future endeavors.
ISRO is one of the few govt organization which has brought fame to country.The kind of success they have acchived in past by surrmounting obstacles stands as role model for entire country. All the resons of failures should be checked. We should stand by these great scientist and engineers ; who could have easily caught the next flight to any other devloped nation.
ISRO is an organisation which had proved its capabilities in past.I thoroughly beleive in the abilities,talent,capabilities,determination and the resolve to come out successfull.They have proved it in past and they will do it this time.I request people of India to be patient with them;a very simple reason is that "Nobody plans and works for failure's.Only work for success."
We all have to consider the fact that this the most complex technology that ISRO employees are developing and all this is done without anybody's help(read that as Russia).This is the time of crisis and request everybody to be patient and provide all the support and demonstrate unwavering faith in the ability of ISRO.
- Indian on roll....
better go with the newest technology, then only we are embedded to the advancements. "err is humane and machane" it's to be solved. that happend with the ASLV also at its first time.
ISRO is in developing phase and these type of errors are meant to happen, I think as last time our scientist will take this matter very seriously and will come up with something more proficient, which will further enhance the stature of India in world. As far as my friend Prakash Rao comment about corruption, I think it will be very rude on our behalf to accuse our Scientist for corruption they are the base of our strong foundation. Finally I wishes for the success of our Space endeavor.
Some people are saying that these mishaps cause loss to the taxpayers. They should be aware that ISRO earns more money than it spends, by launching foreign satellites, sharing remote sensing data etc.
I live in Florida, not far from NASA's main launch site at Cape Canavarel. NASA did have many failures early in its inception much worse than this and even recently with the Shuttle explosions in '86 and '03 as well as Hubble mirror embarrassment in mid 90s. What is more important is how quickly you recover from these setbacks and scale new heights like NASA has done. ISRO is still a kid in that sense and it needs unconditional support and reassurance from the entire community, citizens of India with eye on the future. There should be efforts to put ISRO as the show-case organization of India's scientific achievement to international community. I think they will get it right in the next attempt, even more heavily funded US private firm "Space X" took three attempts to get it right.
Having said that, ISRO should also stop making these school boy mistakes like snapped wires and unshielded electronics getting fried(in Chandrayaan)... anyone know why can't they use these much reliable short range wireless communication between each stages?
Perhaps still we lack in professional attitude with dedication at par required to carry out these sort of work which require high level precision. Instead these failures have comeup in past and have been rectified effectively decades back.Do we need a captain like Mr. Dhawan and Hon'ble former president Mr. Kalam?
Your article, mentioning the reason of failure and the steps to be taken to make it successful, is really good.
FAILURES leads the way to success especially in the field of science and technology. This is very frequent in the innovation of such an high complexity level. Its not time of getting panic and starting buzzing against this failure. It will just put down the moral of our intelligentsia who in adverse condition fighting day and night to make our country at the pinnacle of space research. Keep in mind, they are doing this much progress in limited funding and technological advancement. Our Scientist and Engineers are the true soldier who will fightback this hurdle convincingly as they did when western countries banned our space research organization with very limited funding and infrastructure. So, be supportive and have faith in our exceptionally talented scientist the true son every now and then who makes us proud. They sail through it.
Has anyone bothered about the irresponsible management decision in putting a workhorse satellite worth several crores in the second attempt which is only trying to prove the reasons for the first failure? Can they not think of using dummy payloads just as Ariane rocket did during the development phases by giving free ride for other potential customers? India was one country who enjoyed the free ride and now is a confirmed customer for Ariane for all its satellite launches outside the Indian soil. Will we not learn lessons from our own failures, if not follow others' example?
I have had the good fortune of having dealt with some of the top brass of ISRO/VSSC on a professional level, who were associated with both launch vehicle/engine development, and with that of satellites. They came across as individuals with professionalism ingrained in them, with a very high regard for safety, and a commitment to quality assurance I have only read about in professional journals. It is unfortunate that failures have taken place, but it is highly premature to pass critical judgement on the measured strides being taken by ISRO towards dominance in breaching future frontiers-possibly in space exploration/colonisation. For achieving such a vision impinging on humankind in its entirety, these failures are a small price to pay by the country-and humbling welcome lessons for all concerned- for the magnitude of what will be achieved in times to come. I would not pass armchair criticism on these giants amongst our country's professional elite. I know, from past experience, that they will rebound with new insights, and develop stronger indigenous resources, to cross the seemingly insurmountable. Keep up the good work,ISRO.
All what i want to say thanks for above comments. I am an ISRO employee, I got very useful points from comments.