Chennai, Jan 4
The 29-hour countdown for the launch of India's heavy rocket geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle-development 5 (GSLV-D5) with the indigenous engine began Saturday 11.18 a.m. at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, officials said.
The Rs.356 crore launch mission has twin purpose - to flight test the cryogenic engine designed and built by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and to put in orbit communication satellite GSAT-14.
The launch is scheduled for 4.18 p.m. Sunday. The rocket port is located about 80 km from Chennai.
A cryogenic engine is more efficient as it provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant burnt.
ISRO was to launch this rocket last August but aborted it just hours before the deadline as the fuel started leaking from its second stage or engine.
According to the ISRO official, the second stage was replaced with a new one built with a different metal.
"We also replaced some critical components in the four strap-on motors of the first stage as a matter of precaution," said the official.
The successful flight of this rocket is crucial for India as it will be the first step towards building rockets that can carry heavier payloads, up to four tonnes.
For ISRO perfecting the cryogenic engine technology is crucial as it can save precious foreign exchange by launching communication satellites by itself than depending on foreign rockets.
This will be the first mission of GSLV in the last four years, after two such rockets failed in 2010. One of the GSLV rockets flew with an Indian cryogenic engine, and the other one with a Russian engine.
The GSLV is a three stage/engine rocket. The first stage is fired with solid fuel, the second with liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.
The successful flight of this rocket is crucial for India as it will be the first step towards building rockets that can carry heavier payloads of up to four tonnes.
ISRO is planning to launch an upgraded version of GSLV Mark III rocket soon with a dummy payload.
The design payload capacity of GSLV Mark III is four tonnes. However, the rocket will not have the cryogenic engine which is under development. The mission is mainly to test the rocket's other systems and its aerodynamic stability.
ISRO has another rocket - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)- basically to carry lighter weight remote sensing/earth observation satellites.
Officials told IANS that the global trend is communication satellites are growing big and heavier, while the opposite is happening in respect of remote sensing satellites.
ISRO itself is planning to build a six tonne communication satellites. So it is imperative for India to have a rocket of its own than paying huge sums to other space agencies to sling satellites in orbit.
According to ISRO, several design changes had been incorporated in Sunday's rocket after studying the past GSLV rockets and the issues faced in them.
By:IANS