Article Posted on : - Aug 13, 2013

A replica of GSLV Mk III rocket. File photo

CHENNAI (PTI): In a crucial launch, India's GSLV-D5, powered by indigenous cryogenic upper stage and carrying communication satellite GSAT-14, is set for lift off at 4.50 pm IST on August 19 from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The launch time has been fixed at 4.50 pm for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) D-5 from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, about 90 km from here in Andhra Pradesh, ISRO spokesperson B R Guruprasad told PTI.

This will be the second attempt by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to flight test the indigenous cryogenic stage after the failure of the previous mission of GSLV-D3 on April 15, 2010. The following GSLV flight with a Russian cryogenic stage had also failed in December that year.

The vehicle had been moved to the launch pad and other preparations were underway, ISRO sources said.

After the unsuccessful launch in April 2010, the failure analysis committee had concluded that the thrust build up did not progress as expected due to non-availability of liquid hydrogen supply to the thrust chamber of the main engine.

This failure was attributed to the anomalous stopping of Fuel Booster Turbo Pump (FBTP).

In the last three years, ISRO conducted extensive failure analysis studies and reviews. Cryo stage FBTP was modified as per GSLV-D3 failure analysis committee recommendations and qualification tests were carried out.