GSLV failure: ISRO scientists upset but confident

The unsuccessful launch of the GSAT-4 satellite aboard the GSLV-D3 is a major setback for the indigenous space programme of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

The GSLV-D3 was powered fro the first time by a home-made cryogenic engine, which made India the sixth nation after United States, Russia, Japan, France and China to possess such a complex technology.

ISRO officials said that the Rs 330 crore mission failed minutes after the rocket lifted off at 4.27 pm. Although they would go ahead with the same mission next year, it is still considered to be a setback since ISRO had planned on using the GSLV rocket for its second moon mission.

ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan, however, pointed out that the moon mission would be on schedule and the failure of this mission would not have any impact on the moon mission.

ISRO is still looking into the reasons for this failure and a report on the same is expected in the next three days.

We are not sure if the main cryogenic engine did ignite as the vehicle started to tumble. When we tested the cryogenic engine on the ground it got ignited, an ISRO source said.

This mission was unique for ISRO, as cryogenic engines in the last five GSLV flights were procured from Russia. Besides, in the past, the cryogenic technology was denied to India following US sanctions on Russia against the transfer this complex technology.

Prior to the launch, ISRO had said that the GSLV-D3 flight was significant as the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) would be flight-tested in this mission. This was the first time that the GSLV was carrying the indigenous cryogenic engines as its third stage. In  2006, the (GSLV-F02), with INSAT-4C on board, launched from Sriharihota could not complete the mission.