Mudasir 4K
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RE: GSLV-D5 launch delayed till December 2013 due to snag
GSAT-14 WILL BE LAUNCHED NOW IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) today said that it was looking at launching its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5), with communication satellite GSAT-14 on board, in December this year, about four months after the mission was called off on August 19 due to a technical glitch.
The launch was called off as a leak was observed in the UH25 fuel system of the liquid second stage during the pre-launch pressurisation phase on the vehicle, just two hours before the scheduled lift-off.
The GSLV-D5 mission is aimed at injecting the 1982 kg GSAT-14 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
It was to be the eighth flight of GSLV and its fourth developmental flight. The launch would also have marked the second flight test of the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS).
The first flight test of the indigenous CUS on GSLV-D3 had ended up as a failure on April 15, 2010 when it deviated from its path and splashed into the sea.
GSLV-D3 would have put the 2200 kg GSAT-4, an experimental advanced technology communication satellite that carried communication and navigation payloads, into GTO.
The cryogenic engine, developed after 20 years of work by scientists and engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on this complex technology, is crucial for putting communication satellites heavier than two tonnes into GTO.
An ISRO press release said that, at the time of calling off the GSLV-D5 countdown, the launch vehicle was loaded with 210 tons of liquid and cryogenic propellants.
"About 750 kg of UH25 Fuel had leaked out, leading to contamination of the area around the launch pad. It took 6 days of round-the-clock operations before the contamination could be reduced to the safe level to enable movement of the GSLV-D5 back to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The GSLV-D5 Launch Vehicle has been safely moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on the early morning of August 26, 2013. The vehicle has been de-stacked," it said.
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan constituted a High Level Task Team on August 20, chaired by Mr K. Narayana, (former Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre) to identify the cause of the leak and to work out an action plan for quick restoration of the mission, taking into account the safety, reliability and life of the Liquid Second Stage and the four Liquid Strap-on stages, which were wetted with liquid propellants.
"The leak is suspected to be in the lower portion of the propellant tank or the fluid lines between the tank and fuel filling system of the second stage. Detailed investigation of the leak is underway," it said.
The release said that a new Liquid Second Stage (GS-2) is being assembled to replace the leaked-stage.
"All the four Liquid Strap-on Stages are being replaced with new ones. The First Stage (Solid) and core base shroud are being inspected and the elements that are affected will be replaced. The Satellite Assembly, Avionics Equipment Bay and the Cryogenic Stage will be preserved, following prescribed practices.
"Based on current availability of hardware and components, the GSLV Vehicle assembly and checkout is expected to be completed at the Vehicle Assembly Building by the first week of December 2013 and the launch could take place by December 2013," the release added.
GSAT-14 is designed to provide many satellite-based communication services to the country, including tele-education and telemedicine.
GSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle with solid, liquid and cryogenic stages. It is designed to inject two-tonne class of communication satellites into GTO.
The four liquid L40 strap-ons as well as the second stage of GSLV use storable liquid propellants.
GSLV-D5 vehicle is configured with its first and second stages similar to the ones flown during earlier GSLV missions. The third stage is the indigenous cryogenic stage.
GSAT-14 WILL BE LAUNCHED NOW IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) today said that it was looking at launching its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5), with communication satellite GSAT-14 on board, in December this year, about four months after the mission was called off on August 19 due to a technical glitch.
The launch was called off as a leak was observed in the UH25 fuel system of the liquid second stage during the pre-launch pressurisation phase on the vehicle, just two hours before the scheduled lift-off.
The GSLV-D5 mission is aimed at injecting the 1982 kg GSAT-14 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
It was to be the eighth flight of GSLV and its fourth developmental flight. The launch would also have marked the second flight test of the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS).
The first flight test of the indigenous CUS on GSLV-D3 had ended up as a failure on April 15, 2010 when it deviated from its path and splashed into the sea.
GSLV-D3 would have put the 2200 kg GSAT-4, an experimental advanced technology communication satellite that carried communication and navigation payloads, into GTO.
The cryogenic engine, developed after 20 years of work by scientists and engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on this complex technology, is crucial for putting communication satellites heavier than two tonnes into GTO.
An ISRO press release said that, at the time of calling off the GSLV-D5 countdown, the launch vehicle was loaded with 210 tons of liquid and cryogenic propellants.
"About 750 kg of UH25 Fuel had leaked out, leading to contamination of the area around the launch pad. It took 6 days of round-the-clock operations before the contamination could be reduced to the safe level to enable movement of the GSLV-D5 back to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The GSLV-D5 Launch Vehicle has been safely moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on the early morning of August 26, 2013. The vehicle has been de-stacked," it said.
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan constituted a High Level Task Team on August 20, chaired by Mr K. Narayana, (former Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre) to identify the cause of the leak and to work out an action plan for quick restoration of the mission, taking into account the safety, reliability and life of the Liquid Second Stage and the four Liquid Strap-on stages, which were wetted with liquid propellants.
"The leak is suspected to be in the lower portion of the propellant tank or the fluid lines between the tank and fuel filling system of the second stage. Detailed investigation of the leak is underway," it said.
The release said that a new Liquid Second Stage (GS-2) is being assembled to replace the leaked-stage.
"All the four Liquid Strap-on Stages are being replaced with new ones. The First Stage (Solid) and core base shroud are being inspected and the elements that are affected will be replaced. The Satellite Assembly, Avionics Equipment Bay and the Cryogenic Stage will be preserved, following prescribed practices.
"Based on current availability of hardware and components, the GSLV Vehicle assembly and checkout is expected to be completed at the Vehicle Assembly Building by the first week of December 2013 and the launch could take place by December 2013," the release added.
GSAT-14 is designed to provide many satellite-based communication services to the country, including tele-education and telemedicine.
GSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle with solid, liquid and cryogenic stages. It is designed to inject two-tonne class of communication satellites into GTO.
The four liquid L40 strap-ons as well as the second stage of GSLV use storable liquid propellants.
GSLV-D5 vehicle is configured with its first and second stages similar to the ones flown during earlier GSLV missions. The third stage is the indigenous cryogenic stage.
