<p>The failure of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-D5 mission to launch an advanced communications satellite into orbit has disappointed the scientists and engineers at the Isro and the nation at large. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The mission was called off on Monday at the Sriharikota space port at a late stage in the countdown after a fuel leak was detected in the second stage of the three-stage fuel system. There were a lot of expectations about the launch because it was to flight-test the indigenously developed cryogenic engine, whose success would have marked an important milestone in the country’s space technology. India has made successful launches in the past with Russian-made cryogenic engines. But two missions with an indigenous engine and a Russian engine in 2010 were failures and Isro had been reworking the technology since then.<br /><br />Isro has mastered the technology of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has proved completely reliable with a series of successful launches. But it can take to the orbit only light satellites. Vehicles that use cryogenic technology are needed to launch heavier satellites in the 2,000-2,500 kg range. Advanced communications satellites like the GSAT-14, which was to be launched on Monday, need the cryogenic engine. It is important for the country to become self-reliant in the technology. Few countries have developed their own cryogenic technology. Mastery of the GSLV mission is vital for all important space missions in future. At present heavy communication satellites, which are made in India, are launched with foreign-made rockets abroad. Apart from meeting our own requirements, the GSLV will help India to enter the world market where there is high demand for launches powered by it.<br /><br />Isro now has to analyse the failure and identify the problems that led to the aborting of the mission. After the 2010 failures the complete design and configuration of the GSLV- D5 had been changed and the engine test and the high altitude test were successful. One consolation is that the fault was detected not in the cryogenic stage, though that does not by itself show that the main technological hurdle has been crossed. The leak was also luckily detected before the launch. Isro has successfully met many serious challenges in the past. It has worked for long on the cryogenic project and should prove that it is equal to this tough challenge too.</p>
<p>The failure of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-D5 mission to launch an advanced communications satellite into orbit has disappointed the scientists and engineers at the Isro and the nation at large. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The mission was called off on Monday at the Sriharikota space port at a late stage in the countdown after a fuel leak was detected in the second stage of the three-stage fuel system. There were a lot of expectations about the launch because it was to flight-test the indigenously developed cryogenic engine, whose success would have marked an important milestone in the country’s space technology. India has made successful launches in the past with Russian-made cryogenic engines. But two missions with an indigenous engine and a Russian engine in 2010 were failures and Isro had been reworking the technology since then.<br /><br />Isro has mastered the technology of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has proved completely reliable with a series of successful launches. But it can take to the orbit only light satellites. Vehicles that use cryogenic technology are needed to launch heavier satellites in the 2,000-2,500 kg range. Advanced communications satellites like the GSAT-14, which was to be launched on Monday, need the cryogenic engine. It is important for the country to become self-reliant in the technology. Few countries have developed their own cryogenic technology. Mastery of the GSLV mission is vital for all important space missions in future. At present heavy communication satellites, which are made in India, are launched with foreign-made rockets abroad. Apart from meeting our own requirements, the GSLV will help India to enter the world market where there is high demand for launches powered by it.<br /><br />Isro now has to analyse the failure and identify the problems that led to the aborting of the mission. After the 2010 failures the complete design and configuration of the GSLV- D5 had been changed and the engine test and the high altitude test were successful. One consolation is that the fault was detected not in the cryogenic stage, though that does not by itself show that the main technological hurdle has been crossed. The leak was also luckily detected before the launch. Isro has successfully met many serious challenges in the past. It has worked for long on the cryogenic project and should prove that it is equal to this tough challenge too.</p>
