GSLV a competitor for PSLV: SHAR director

The indigenously developed cryogenic engine was successfully used in launching the GSLV-D6 rocket from the country’s premier spaceport at the Sriharikota Range (SHAR) near Sullurupeta in Nellore district here on Thursday evening to put a communication satellite into orbit.

This was the third time that the cryogenic upper stage technology was used in the GSLV rockets from SHAR, which is also known as the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) named after India’s one of the great space scientists.

Expressing satisfaction over the successful launch, SHAR director P. Kunhikrishnan said that, with this, the GSLV rockets have once again proved their strength and became a competitor for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs). He underscored that the GSLV flights could be used soon as the Isro’s operational launch vehicles considering their many strengths.

The present vehicle was fired from the second launch pad at SHAR with the GSLV-D6 injecting into the communication satellite GSAT-6 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The SHAR spaceport is furthered strengthened with advanced facilities to make it efficient for the launch of rockets using cryogenic technology.

A very complex system, the cryogenic state facilitates use of propellants at extremely low temperatures which helps in providing more thrust for kilogram of propellant when compared to the solid or liquid propellant stages.

The space scientists and the administration unit at SHAR were in an upbeat mood on the successful use of cryogenic technology yet again in Thursday’s launch.

Over the decades, SHAR has emerged as space centre to meet comprehensive space needs of the country. These include vehicle assembly, static test operations, range operations, liquid storage and solid propellant space booster plant.

SHAR has facilities for production of solid propellant rocket boosters, ground and environmental qualification of rocket motors, integration, check out and launch of rockets.