Image for Indian engine launch
Sriharikota, (Andhra Pradesh), April 15: India’s space odyssey suffered a major setback on Thursday with the prestigious Rs 330-crore Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-D3 mission failing soon after takeoff. The GSLV-D3 flight with the communications satellite GSAT-4 on
board plunged into the Bay of Bengal within minutes of taking off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhavan Space Centre at Sriharikota, to the utter disappointment of Isro scientists.
The mission was different from previous ones since it carried the cryogenic engine designed and developed by Isro scientists at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. Previous missions had used cryogenic engines purchased from Russia.
“It was not successful,” said a dejected Dr K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of Isro, while talking to mediapersons at the Brahmaprakash Auditorium on Thursday evening. “Everything functioned as per our plans till the 293rd second of the launch. We are not sure whether the cryogenic main engine ignited or not. We have to look into the flight data before coming to conclusions.”
The Isro chairman said the countdown and blastoff proceeded as per plan. But soon scientists sitting in the master control room noticed the vehicle veering and losing control and altitude after the second stage burnt out. “It will take us two to three days to understand exactly what happened, why it happened and what are the corrective measures to be taken,” said Dr Radhakrishnan.
Dr Radhakrishnan, however, said another GSLV mission with an indigenously-built cryogenic engine would take to the skies within one year.
“Our other space missions will continue as per schedule,” he said. “We have two more Russian-built cryogenic engines with us and these will be used to launch the GSAT-5B and GSAT-6 communications satellites. The GSAT-5B launch will take place in September 2010.” He added that Isro would also use the GSLV for Chandrayaan-II, the second moon mission slated for 2013, after taking necessary corrective measures.
India had taken up the challenge to indigenously develop the cryogenic engine after the US-led Missile Technology Control Regime blocked avenues for the country to buy this technology. Hence the disappointment is all the more high among the Isro top brass. However, while reacting to a question about the failure of the mission, Dr Radhakrishnan turned philosophical and recited a sloka from the Bhagavad Gita, “Karmanye Vadhikar-aste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana (We have to discharge our duties irrespective of failure),” he said.
Age Correspondent
