The launch of the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F06) on Dec 25, 2010 was failed. It is ISRO’s second GSLV failure in 2010. Out of seven GSLV flights from 2001, 4 including the latest one have failed. But it cannot be a setback for ISRO. The technical faults in launch of satellites are a regular one for every space programs.
ISRO’s failed missions:
August 10, 1979 à SLV-3 (Rohini)
March 24, 1987 à ASLV / SROSS-1
July 13, 1988 à ASLV / SROSS -2
September 20, 1993 à PSLV / IRS – 1E
March 2001 à GSAT1
July 10, 2006 à GSLV – F02 / INSAT 4C
April 15, 2010 à GSLV – D3 / GSAT4
December 25, 2010 à GSLV-F06
The GSLV-F06 flight was scheduled to take off originally in December 21, 2010 but it was postponed later due to leak of helium gas from one of the valves in the Russian cryogenic stage. While it costs, Rs. 175 crore to build the GSLV-F06, for the GSAT-5P it cost Rs. 150 crore.
What is GSLV?
The GSLV is a three-stage vehicle, with the first core stage powered by the solid propellants, four strap-on motors around the core stage, which are fuelled by liquid propellants, the second stage propelled by liquid propellants and the third topmost stage uses cryogenic propellants.
The failure of this could hit the following:
- The Rs 425 crore second Indian moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, which is expected to be flown by the GSLV in 2013.
- The Rs 13000 crore human space flight mission, for which the government is yet to give green signal.
- Launch of
The failure need not dishearten the scientist community. Scientists learn from their mistakes, politicians neither learn from nor admit their mistakes.
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