Find the reasons

The failure of the launch of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from Sriharikota on Saturday is a major setback and has disappointed the scientific community and the nation. The GSLV F06 was expected to put in space the satellite GSAT-5P which would have boosted the country’s telecommunication, television relay and many other services. The failure of the launch and the loss of the satellite has resulted in major financial loss too. It has caused much concern because it was the second consecutive failure of a GSLV flight, after an earlier crash in April this year. The concern has also been compounded by the fact that four GSLV flights, out of a total of seven, have failed in the last nine years.

ISRO officials have explained that the command and control system in the first stage of the vehicle failed and the reasons for the failure are to be pinpointed by a committee to be set up soon. In the last failure the problem was with the cryogenic engine which was in the third stage. This time a Russian cryogenic engine was used and the fault occurred in the first stage of the rocket. The failed flight had actually been postponed after a snag had been detected. It is now for ISRO to find out what went wrong, rectify the problem and ensure that there are no other snags to affect the working of the GSLV series. The vehicle has a crucial role in India’s future space programme and it is necessary to get complete mastery over it. ISRO authorities have said that the failure will not impact the plans to boost the telecom or other services or projects like the Chandrayan-2. But there are doubts that some plans may be delayed. It is also likely that the failure will affect India’s reputation as a space power with reliable technical expertise. That may have a commercial fall-out.

However, there is no need to lose heart. ISRO has come back strongly from setbacks in the past also. All other space powers have had similar failures. What is important is the ability to find out the reasons for the failure and take steps to avoid them in future. ISRO should also use this as an opportunity to study its internal processes and see if its systems of oversight and supervision at all levels are working without any scope for a hitch or an error.