Sriharikota, December 25: In a setback for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the launch of the advanced communication satellite GSAT-5P failed on Saturday.
The satellite, which successfully lifted-off on the GSLV rocket from the Sriharikota rocket launch centre here, exploded mid-air following technical problem in the first phase after launch.
Television images showed thick smoke in the sky above the Sriharikota rocket launch centre.
GSAT-5P, if launched and placed successfully, would have ensured continuity of telecom, television and weather services after an earlier satellite is retired.
The Rs 125 crore GSAT-5P satellite weighing 2,130 kg was aimed to serve the needs of the telecommunication sector and the weather department. It would have eventually retired the INSAT-2E satellite that was sent up in 1999.
The GSAT-5P satellite, with a life span of over 13 years, had 36 transponders – automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals. Its successful launch would have taken the agency’s transponder capacity to about 235 from the 200 currently in the orbit.
The GSLV rocket has three stages. The first stage is fired by solid fuel. The four strap on motors give additional thrust during the lift-off and the initial phase of the rocket’s flight.
The second stage is fired by liquid fuel. The third stage, which is more complex than the others, involves the cryogenic engine powered by liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidiser.
The GSLV rocket is 51 metres tall and weighs 418 tonnes.
ISRO has the following communication satellites in service – INSAT 2E, INSAT 3A, INSAT 3B, INSAT 3C, INSAT 3E, INSAT 4A, INSAT 4CR and INSAT 4B working at 50 percent capability.
ISRO launched two major satellites in 2010 – communication satellite GSAT-4 and remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2.
The GSAT-4 launch too had failed after the rocket crashed into the Bay of Bengal while Cartosat-2 was placed successfully in the orbit.
—-IANS