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.
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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.
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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.