Article Posted on : - Sep 23, 2009

A file photo of GSLV

CHENNAI (PTI): India would use an indigenously developed cryogenic engine to power the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle -- GSLV-D3, which is to be used to launch the country's communication satellite GSAT-4 by around December this year.

"We are in the process of integrating the cyrogenic engine with GSLV. We have integrated the first stage and the second stage is in progress," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair said here Wednesday.

The cryogenic stage would be integrated with the GSLV, a three-stage vehicle, in the third stage, according to ISRO officials.

Preparations for the launch of GSAT-4, a communication satellite, was in an advanced stage and "we are planning to launch it in December", he said after the successful launch of Oceansat-2 and six other nano satellites by PSLV-C14 from here.

The cryogenic stage is now being integrated and tested at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

In 1996, India took up indigenous development of cryogenic engine that would make it totally self-reliant in all aspects of the launch vehicle technology.

GSLV flights launched by India so far used Russian-made cryogenic engines. Seven cryogenic stages were procured from Russia of which five stages have been utilised.