The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was under tremendous pressure for a flawless launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). There have been two previous failures of the same rocket - in April 2010 and again in December 2010.
The 15 April 2010 launch attempt was with an indigenous cryogenic engine while the 25 Dec 2010 was with one of the Russian built cryogenic one. To pile up more misery, the GSLV-D5 successfully launched today, was earlier on the launch pad on 19 Aug 2013. On that day, ISRO aborted the launch 75 minutes before the lift-off due to a fuel leakage in the 2nd stage.
Over the last 4-1/2 months, ISRO dismantled the rocket and rebuilt the leaky 2nd stage fuel store with aluminium alloy of different composition to prevent the Liquid fuel leaks. The attempt has been successful, and the GLSV-D5 made a text book launch from Sriharikota Range (SHAR), at 16:18 IST (10:48 UTC) today, Sun, 05 Jan 2014.
As planned the 49-metre tall vehicle, weighing 415 tonnes, carried the 1982 kilogram communication satellite GSAT-14 into orbit. At lift-off, the 1st stage used what is probably the world's largest solid fuel motors and strap-on boosters. The 2nd stage indigenous Vikas Liquid propellant engine ignited at 2 minutes 30 seconds after lift-off, and the heat shield discarded.
At about 130 kilometre above the Earth, the 2nd stage separated, and the all-important cryogenic engine took over about 4 minutes 53 seconds after lift-off. Using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as fuel, the cryogenic engine fired for 12 minutes, to boost the GSAT-14 payload into orbit.
Here is the launch captured on my Android phone from my rooftop at Chennai.( overcast sky)
And here is the launch video screen captured from ISRO live streaming.
The 15 April 2010 launch attempt was with an indigenous cryogenic engine while the 25 Dec 2010 was with one of the Russian built cryogenic one. To pile up more misery, the GSLV-D5 successfully launched today, was earlier on the launch pad on 19 Aug 2013. On that day, ISRO aborted the launch 75 minutes before the lift-off due to a fuel leakage in the 2nd stage.
Over the last 4-1/2 months, ISRO dismantled the rocket and rebuilt the leaky 2nd stage fuel store with aluminium alloy of different composition to prevent the Liquid fuel leaks. The attempt has been successful, and the GLSV-D5 made a text book launch from Sriharikota Range (SHAR), at 16:18 IST (10:48 UTC) today, Sun, 05 Jan 2014.
As planned the 49-metre tall vehicle, weighing 415 tonnes, carried the 1982 kilogram communication satellite GSAT-14 into orbit. At lift-off, the 1st stage used what is probably the world's largest solid fuel motors and strap-on boosters. The 2nd stage indigenous Vikas Liquid propellant engine ignited at 2 minutes 30 seconds after lift-off, and the heat shield discarded.
At about 130 kilometre above the Earth, the 2nd stage separated, and the all-important cryogenic engine took over about 4 minutes 53 seconds after lift-off. Using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as fuel, the cryogenic engine fired for 12 minutes, to boost the GSAT-14 payload into orbit.
And here is the launch video screen captured from ISRO live streaming.
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