India’s cryogenic rocket programme fails to deliver (Second Lead)

SRIHARIKOTA - India’s space programme suffered a setback Thursday as its indigenous cryogenic engine did not to live up to expectations, developing a last-second technical snag after lift-off from the spaceport here.

While the main cryogenic engine ignited after it was activated 300 seconds after the rocket blasted off, two Verinier cryogenic engines failed to ignite.

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Rs.350-crore mission failed as its rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Development 3 (GSLV-D3), deviated from its path minutes after the rocket blasted off around 5 p.m.

ISRO Chairman K.Radhakrishnan said: “The vehicle started tumbling and started losing altitude, because two engines would not have ignited.”

The GSLV D3 blasted off with a GSAT 4 satellite but stopped emitting signals within minutes, after the rocket attained 60-km altitude.

The data from the rocket stopped coming after 505 seconds, ISRO officials said.

“The cryogenic state ignition order was issued by onboard computers as planned. Indication of cryogenic engine getting ignited was also obtained.”

“The cryogenic engine has two more Verinier engines. It seems they did not get ignited,” he said, adding a “detailed analysis will be done”.

Radhakrishnan said the next GSLV launch with an Indian made cryogenic engine will be launced within a year.

The Rs.350-crore programme was not insured.

This is the first launch for Radhakrishan after he became ISRO chairman.