After the successful launch of a precise mission to the red planet, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch its refurbished Geo-Synchronous Satellite launch Vehicle (GSlV-D5) on January 5, 2014.
According to ISRO spokesperson Deviprasad Karnik, the space agency has targeted to launch GSlV D5 on January 5, 2015. He said, “We have targeted the launch on January 5 afternoon; MRR team will meet on December 27 to take stock of the readiness and will finalise the date and time for the launch.”
According to ISRO, the Mission Readiness Review (MRR) team will meet on December 27 to give the formal clearance for the launch. ISRO is curiously looking ahead to launch GSlV D5 for more than many reasons. It is significant The GSlV-D5 will have India built an indigenous cryogenic engine to launch a communication satellite GSAT-14 into orbit. An ISRO scientist told The Pioneer that with this launch using indigenous cryogenic engine would change the DNA of ISRO in the launch vehicle space.
In fact it was in August 19, 2013 ISRO’s effort to put indigenous cryogenic engine failed after 75 minute after the lift off because of a leak in the liquid fuel in the propellant tank in the rocket’s second stage forcing ISRO to call off the launch. According to ISRO, a refurbished liquid tank has been replaced made at the liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (lPSC), ISRO, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu and scientists are confidant of crossing the barrier with a success.
The GSlV-D5 is a three-stage, 414-tonne and 49-metre tall vehicle and would be launched from space port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission which entered red planet’s orbit has put India into the league of select nation and Mars mission would reach the red planet in September 2014. Space scientists believe if the GSlV-D5 with a cryogenic engine made in India launches a communication satellite would change the Indian Space programme and ISRO might enter satellite launch business to exploit the big space market.
According to ISRO sources after the launch of Mars mission the space agency got global recognition and would be launching German, French, British and Canadian satellites. ISRO is going to launch EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Programme) satellite belonging to Germany. The EnMAP is a hyperspectral satellite that would provide images of the Earth at regular intervals. This apart, ISRO will be launching French satellite SPOT-7 during the first quarter of 2014, Apart from these launches ISRO would be launching four more small foreign satellites that would go along with SPOT-7. ISRO is also having discussions with British agencies for launching three satellites each weighing around 300 kg and also to launch a set of Canadian satellites.
ISRO plans to launch one commercial launch every year using the Indian Polar Satellite launch Vehicle (PSlV).