GSLV launch aborted

By R. K. Radhakrishnan

SRIHARIKOTA, MARCH 28. India's quest to bridge a technological gulf in its space programme suffered a setback when the launch of its biggest rocket, a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), was aborted one second before the 3.47 p.m. take-off at SHAR today.

``The mission stands cancelled for the time being,'' the ISRO Chairman, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, announced. He said he had informed the Prime Minister about the development. The latter reportedly said he could understand the disappointment and urged the mission team to redouble its efforts.

Clear skies on a hot summer day at the Sriharikota range (SHAR) provided the setting for a perfect take-off for the 49-metre, 401-tonne launch vehicle, which was to place a 1,540 kg GSAT-1 satellite in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, east of Indonesia, 1,020 seconds into the flight.

Just as the ignition of the strap-on motors was ordered, the insulation of one of the four motors caught fire, engulfing the entire stage in smoke. Later, the ISRO said one strap-on did not develop the expected level of thrust. ``So the computer ordered the shutdown of the entire system,'' Dr. Kasturirangan said. He said the problem had to be studied adding it was not possible to fix a new date for the next launch. ``We will correct the problems and fix a launch as early as possible.''

System shutdown

The preparations had gone on as planned; the final countdown in the automatic launch sequence made by switching on to the internal GSLV computer began 10 minutes before the lift- off, and the automatic launch sequence checking was also smooth. At this point, the computer ordered the ignition of the four liquid strap-ons, the ISRO chief said. Once they were ignited, they found that, automatically, within about three seconds, the safety system on board the vehicle got activated and the whole system shutdown, he added.

``We have only done a very preliminary assessment of the problem based on some inputs,'' Dr. Kasturirangan said adding an enormous amount of data had to be studied to pin-point the deficiencies. ``We need to understand the reasons for this particular engine not developing the full thrust. After we understand this, we need to make the necessary modifications.''

The ISRO chief, saw one bright spot in the programme - the safety mechanism worked well, and as a result, the launch vehicle was saved.

Initial hurdles

The three-stage GSLV, which took ten years to build, faced quite a few hurdles ranging from U.S. technology sanctions and cost overruns to Russian ambivalence when it came to the supply of the appropriate cryogenic engine technology.

The Rs. 1,400-crore project, which also includes financial provisions for two more flights, will enable India place its INSAT class of satellites in orbit shortly.

Taking advantage of the experimental nature of the flight, its payload, the GSAT-1, also tries out a few indigenously developed technologies such as the Newton Reaction Control Thrusters, Fast Recovery Star Sensors and Heat Pipe Radiator Panels, for the first time.

The satellite was slated to be used to demonstrate added capabilities in digital audio broadcast, internet services, compressed digital TV experiments and developmental communication.

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