The Indian Space Research Organisation has taken a major stride in putting India’s 11th communication satellite into geosynchronous orbit at a height of 36,000 km, using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F04. This was despite last-minute glitches. The launch came in the backdrop of the failed previous mission, INSAT-4C, in July 2006 when the vehicle was destroyed after one of the four liquid propellant strap-on stages lost thrust two seconds after lift-off. That another satellite was assembled within a year is an achievement in itself.  ISRO had implemented all the recommendations on the failure analysis committee on fabrication and inspection processes and strengthened the process of clearance of launch during automatic launch sequence phase. But it was precisely during this automatic launch phase that the computer halted the operation 15 seconds before lift-off. This was following failure of ground circuit to send signals to the third cryogenic stage.

ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair has said resetting the launch to 6.20 p.m on Sunday, instead of the scheduled 4.20 p.m., was not a “rash decision” but a carefully considered one. But the fact that there was a momentary signal failure during the flight, that too at the cryogenic stage, causing scientists’ hearts to miss a beat, shows that the organisation had taken a calculated risk.

 The successful launch of the 2,130 kg INSAT-4CR shows the performance capability of our space vehicles. This was the heaviest satellite to be put into orbit. This is the third in the INSAT series. Unlike the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which has successfully launched eight Indian remote sensing satellites, a recoverable space capsule and seven foreign satellites into 550-800 km high polar sun synchronous orbits and an exclusive Indian weather satellite Kalpana into geosynchronous transfer orbit, the GSLV has had only two successful operational flights so far -- the Edusat in September 2004 and INSAT 4CR now. However, while PSLV can launch only a 1,400 kg class satellite, the GSLV can place 2,000 kg plus class satellites into GTO as it uses Russian supplied cryogenic engine. Indigenous development of cryogenic engine has reached an advanced stage. With a proven track record, ISRO can hope to capture five to ten per cent of the multi-billion dollar world market for satellite launches.