GSLV to be re-launched with indigenous cryogenic engine

June 29, 2010 05:03 pm | Updated November 12, 2016 05:29 am IST - Kolkata:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to re-launch the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with a home-grown cryogenic engine in a year’s time after the failure in April this year.

“We have come across a few scenarios after detailed analysis of the failure. Now the immediate task is to test it on the ground and we look forward to re-launch it next year,” ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan told reporters on the sidelines of the 117 birth anniversary celebrations of Professor P C Mahalanobis at the Indian Statistical Institute here.

The five earlier versions of the GSLV had Russia-supplied cryogenic engines. India’s cryogenic upper stage (CUS) engine was meant to replace the Russian engines.

The GSLV D-3, the satellite launch vehicle showcasing the country’s indigenous cryogenic technology, trailed off its designated course and went out of control shortly after the lift-off on April 15.

The rocket, along with its two payloads —satellites GSAT-4 and GAGAN — crashed into the Bay of Bengal minutes after blastoff.

The failed mission caused loss of the GSLV-D3 rocket costing about Rs 180 crore and the satellites valued at Rs 150 crore.

The launch was the key to India’s space programme as it would have made it the sixth nation to successfully deploy cryogenic technology, joining US, Russia, Japan, China and France.

Meanwhile, Radhakrishnan said Chandrayaan-II will be launched in 2013.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.