India tests heavy rocket’s liquid core stage successfully
By IANSWednesday, September 8, 2010
BANGALORE - India successfully conducted the second static test of liquid core stage for developing the advanced version of heavy rockets, the country’s space agency said Wednesday.
“The second static testing of the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle’s (GSLV Mk-III) liquid core stage was conducted for 200 seconds at the Mahendragiri, test facility in Tamil Nadu,” state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement here.
As the heaviest earth storable liquid stages ever built by ISRO, the second core stage has two high pressure Vikas engines in a clustered configuration.
“The successful test for full flight duration of 200 seconds is a milestone in the rocket programme, as the initial data indicated normal performance of the core stage on 500 health parameters,” the space agency said.
The test will enable the space agency to develop the advanced version of the GSLV to launch heavier satellites of four-tonne class and above from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 80 km northeast of Chennai.
The advanced version of the rocket uses two solid strap-on boosters, liquid stage and a cryogenic upper stage to carry heavier satellites into the geosynchronous transfer orbit.
