India launches its first cryogenic rocket

MUMBAI

After two successive failures, India on Sunday successfully launched the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle or GSLV-D5  powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, a barrier island off the coast of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. 

The 350-million rupees mission, which put the GSAT-14 communications satellite into orbit, was launched and supervised by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Sunday afternoon thus paving way for India’s entry into multi-billion dollar commercial launcher market.

The successful launch of GSLV-D5 rocket, which carried the advanced GSAT-14 communications satellite, has made ISRO world’s sixth space agency after United States, Russia, Japan, China and France to have achieved the feat of an indigenous cryogenic rocket launch.  

ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan termed Sunday’s mission a success.

“This shows the maturity of the team. We dedicate the proud moment for the country,” he said.

ISRO’s Mission director K Sivan said that the launch has been so precise that the satellite was put just 40 metres within the 179km perigee and only 50km of the 36,000km apogee.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh congratulated the ISRO for the launch.

“PM congratulates the scientists and engineers of ISRO for the successful launch of GSLV D5 carrying GSAT-14 payload,” Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) wrote on Twitter.

The GSLV mission had suffered two successive failures on earlier occasion.

In August 2013, the launch was averted minutes before the lift-off as ISRO scientists found out leakage of highly inflammable and explosive fuel.

India’s prowess is recognized in PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) range of rockets as it has witnessed a string of 25 successes while GSLV is considered a challenge as it carries heavier payloads including humans to space.

In November 2013, India successfully launched Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).

MOM is expected to reach the red planet orbit on September 24, 2014.

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