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GSLV lifts off, places satellite in orbit

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

The GSLV-D2 launch vehicle taking off in Sriharikota on Thursday. — Photo: M. Moorthy

SRIHARIKOTA May 8. India today took a step forward in realising the dream of placing its satellites in a geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO) following the success of the second experimental flight of the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), from the Indian spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, here.

The first successful flight was on April 18, 2001, when the GSLV D-1 placed a 1540-kg satellite, GSAT-1, in a geo-synchronous transfer orbit. From the GTO, satellites are lifted to their allotted slot by firing the boosters on-board the satellites.

The second developmental flight of the GSLV had a ``textbook'' lift-off at 4.58 p.m. today and stayed on course for 1013.34 seconds to place the 1800-kg GSAT-2 at the appointed slot, a geo-synchronous transfer orbit at the ``right height, the right speed and the right direction.''

``It is one of the most memorable moments. This is a major milestone for ISRO. I am proud of the technological achievement. Most importantly we have full confidence in the vehicle,'' the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, K. Kasturirangan, said.

Two successful developmental flights are required to acquire the tag `operational' for a launch vehicle. With this flight, the GSLV has delivered and joined the ranks of operational vehicles. The GSLVs, named Mark-1, each costing about Rs. 150 crores, use the Russian cryogenic stage, a crucial part of the launch vehicle. This time, the ISRO Chairman made it a point to thank the Russian delegation for the perfect functioning of the cryo stage. Last time, the stage underperformed, leading to the satellite using up too much of its fuel on-board to reach its orbital slot.

This time the satellite was placed at a GTO of 180.2 km perigee (the nearest point to the earth) and about 36,000 apogee (the farthest point) and an inclination of 19.2 degree at the separation stage. ``The work of the launch vehicle is over. It performed very well,'' said the Mission Director, V. Perumal.

But with the present class of GSLVs, ISRO will not be able to launch its INSAT class of satellites, which are almost twice as heavy. ISRO achieved a 30 per cent gain in payload weight over the last launch through its innovations — enhanced propellant loading in the core solid motor, high pressure engine in the liquid propellant strap-ons and second stage and optimisation of structural elements. In fact, this is the heaviest satellite launched in India.

To launch the 4000-kg class of new INSAT satellites, Mark-3, the fourth generation launch vehicle, is needed. The configuration for this has been finalised and Rs.180 crores was allotted towards the development of systems. ISRO hopes to have the vehicle ready well before the end of the decade.

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