ISRO postpones GSLV launch due to glitch
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) cancelled Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) programme after imperfections in its indigenous cryogenic upper stage. The GSLV-D5 mission to launch into orbit the advanced communication satellite GSAT-14 was dropped due to a fuel leak.
The lift that was scheduled for 4.50 p.m. on August 19 from Sriharikota spaceport was just called off an hour before.
Why does the launch of GSLV-D5 hold significance?
- GSLV-D5 has an indigenously built cryogenic engine which makes it special.
- The launch vehicle will place 1982-kg weighing GSAT-14 in orbit to signal India’s entry into an ivy league of nations with frontier capabilities of launching 2,000-2,500 kg class of advanced communication satellites in outer space.
- GSAT-14, the 23rd geostationary communication satellite built by ISRO, will join a line-up of nine Indian satellites to help provide a host of satellite based communication services, including tele-education and tele-medicine.
- The satellite will enhance the in-orbit capacity of the extended C and Ku-band transponders in the INSAT-GSAT ecosystem to set the stage for new and exciting experiments driven by satellite-based communication.
- India has developed this cryogenic engine as Russia denied India from providing a cryogenic engine.
GSAT-14
- Satellite with 6 extended C band and 6 Ku band transponders.
- It will enhance the communication transponder capacity
The previous two efforts of ISRO to launch the satellites GSLV-F06 carrying satellite GSAT-5P in December 2010 and GSLV-D3 carrying satellite GSAT-4 in April 2010 were not a success.
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Month: Current Affairs - August, 2013
Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs