{"id":15772,"date":"2014-01-05T22:23:19","date_gmt":"2014-01-05T16:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/?p=15772"},"modified":"2015-05-28T14:38:33","modified_gmt":"2015-05-28T09:08:33","slug":"india-poised-to-launch-its-indigenously-developed-gslv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/government\/india-poised-to-launch-its-indigenously-developed-gslv","title":{"rendered":"India Poised To Launch Its Indigenously Developed GSLV"},"content":{"rendered":"

The need for a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The last space exploration program of ISRO had attracted much flak and criticism arising from the fact that ISRO had used a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C25) to launch the Mangalyaan on its mission to Mars. The 1350 kilo Mangalyaan carries a payload of only 13 kilos, in contrast to the European Mar\u2019s Expresses\u2019 payload of 116 kilos.\u00a0 The insufficiency of the instruments on the Mangalyaan, heavily delimits the space craft\u2019s capacity to furnish any new information. The Mangalyaan\u2019s limitations arise directly from the ISRO\u2019s repeated failures in designing a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), despite continued research on the said vehicle for the past 15 years. In fact, the ISRO\u2019s GSLV launches seem to be plagued by a curse. Since the first trial flight of the indigenously designed GSLV in 2001, the launch attempts had been met with consistent failures (four failed launches out of seven attempts). The last launch program in August 2013 had been interrupted rather drastically when the technicians detected a hydrazine fuel leak in the second stage of the rocket propelled engine of the GSLV just on the eve of the departure of the said vehicle. A GSLV is capable of launching a much heavier satellite (2000 kilos plus or up to 5 tons). Such a heavier satellite can evidently be furnished with a greater number of necessary equipments (higher payload), which in turn significantly enhances the observational capacities of the satellite.<\/p>\n

However, this time the arduous efforts of the ISRO scientists might just pay off. In an answer to all the criticisms, ISRO had been successful in designing a fully functional GSLV as it started the countdown for the launch of the entirely indigenously developed GSLV \u2013 D5 scheduled for liftoff on Sunday, January 05, 2014 from Sriharikota. The GSLV \u2013 D5 is carrying the GSAT \u2013 14 satellite, and excepting deterrent factors like bad weather conditions or any last moment technical hitch, the GSLV \u2013 D5 is supposed to launch the 1,982 kilo GSAT \u2013 14 at 4:50 PM from the second launch pad of ISRO\u2019s Satish Dhawan Space Center. As further confirmed by the ISRO officials, \u201cAfter the launch authorization board gave its clearance, the 29 \u2013 hour countdown started at 11:50 AM. Everything is going on schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

The launch program of the GSLV \u2013 D5:<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Determined to break the curse supposedly looming over the launch attempts of GSLV\u2019s by ISRO, the scientists have left no stone unturned this time in the designing of the GSLV \u2013 D5, which has a height of 161 feet and a liftoff weight of 640 tons. The GSLV \u2013 D5 pertains to the GSLV \u2013 Mk III category and happens to be the heaviest rocket ever built indigenously. Following the failure of the last GSLV launch attempt, the ISRO scientists have been relentlessly pursuing the designing of the GSLV \u2013 D5, in fact going over the launch vehicle with a fine toothed technical comb, so as to eliminate all the chance factors confirming a smooth countdown leading to an equally smooth and textbook liftoff. As further confirmed by S Somnath, GSLV – Mk III Project Director, \u201cThe solid first stage and the core base shroud have also been inspected and the affected elements replaced. The four strap \u2013 on engines too have been replaced\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, the most important and challenging aspect of this particular GSLV launch happens to be the real time flight assessment of the rocket\u2019s third stage consisting of the indigenously manufactured and assembled cryogenic stage, technically designated as the Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS). The CUS is considered to be the backbone of the successful GSLV flights of the future. In this launch, there is a marked departure from the experimental GSLV launches attempted earlier, where a Russian made cryogenic engine had been implemented. However, in the GSLV \u2013 D5, the Russian built CUS has been replaced with a completely indigenous version.<\/p>\n

What makes the GSLV mission even more challenging is the calamitous performance of the new engine in its initiatory flight in April 2010, where the said engine had stalled within seconds of its ignition, deep \u2013 sixing the vehicle in the sea. So, it is no wonder that, there will be a lot of \u2018keep your fingers crossed\u2019 and \u2018touchwoods\u2019 accompanying the GSLV\u2019s liftoff on January 5th<\/sup>, 2014.<\/p>\n

The other important aspect of the GSLV launch program is evidently an attempt of India to gain a foothold in the global communications market, where the communication satellites like the GSAT \u2013 14 piggybacking the GSLV \u2013 D5 play a pivotal role. The GSAT \u2013 14 is equipped with six Ku \u2013 band and six Extended C \u2013 Band transponders, that is aimed to facilitate a nationwide digital audio transmission and other communication technologies. Designed to last in a geosynchronous orbit for 12 years, the GSAT \u2013 14 is supposed to take the place of the GSAT \u2013 3 (EDUSAT) that has been orbiting the earth for a decade.<\/p>\n

The powerful rocket boosters of the GSLV Mk \u2013 III series can effortlessly lift relatively heavy communication satellites at an apogee of 36000 kilometers, placing them right above the equator with an orbital velocity same as the rotational velocity of the earth. Since the relative velocity of such a satellite is in congruence with the earth\u2019s rotational velocity, such a satellite appears to be stationary from any point on the surface of the earth. The advantage of such a geostationary satellite (the orbit of which is termed as a geosynchronous orbit), is that, it can be tracked through a bank of simple antennas owing to its apparently stationary position, which is far less complicated than tracking a moving satellite.<\/p>\n

Cryogenics in GSLVs:<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

However, the thrust necessary for the GSLV Mk \u2013 III class of launch vehicles, like the GSLV \u2013 D5, for hoisting a 5 ton communication satellite into a geosynchronous orbit can only come from cryogenic engines, which can generate the necessary thrust per unit mass for achieving such spatial feats. Cryogenic engines use liquid oxygen or hydrogen, the fuel being maintained at extremely low temperature conditions which upon combustion emanates only water as exhaust (hence absolutely non \u2013 polluting) and also provides the colossal thrust needed for the flight of the GSLVs carrying such heavy payloads.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s cryogenic technologies suffered some serious setbacks in 1993, when Russia had backed out of a cryogenic motor technology transfer contract with India as a result of a false provocation by USA who had suggested that India might be planning to implement its space technologies for military purposes.\u00a0 The reasons may also have been purely economical as India\u2019s low cost heavy launch technology would have been in direct conflict with the business interests of Europe, Russia and USA.\u00a0 However, whatever happens, happens for good and such setbacks had inspired India today to design its own cryogenic rocket technologies.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Upon conclusion of the countdown, the GSLV \u2013 D5 will lift off and embark on a flight with an estimated flight time of 17 minutes and eight seconds launching the GSAT \u2013 14 in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit along with the aspirations of the ISRO scientists. A successful achievement of the launch and flight of the GSLV \u2013 D5 will make India the sixth country to possess such high \u2013 end space technologies. It will also put India in the same page with China, Japan, USA, Russia and France as a global authority in space probe. The successful completion of the GSLV program will also considerably curtail India\u2019s reliance on foreign launchers like the Ariane of ESA for launching INSAT class communication satellites. ISRO has blueprints for the launching of two more Mk III class GSLV in six month intervals, which upon successful completion will witness the implementation of a third Mk III class GSLV for the Chandrayaan \u2013 2 Moon Mission. The Mk III class GSLVs are also designated for human space explorations and for constructing orbiting space stations. While the cost of space exploration in the international standards is becoming increasingly higher, India perhaps, is the only country who can be accredited with a successful space launch at a cost 30% to 35% lower than other countries. Credit obviously goes to ISRO, who had developed an array of space technologies that are efficient yet cheap. Most important of all is the fact that, with the successful completion of the GSLV program, India will be able to grab its entitled stake in the USD 300 billion global space market!<\/p>\n

Read More:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Secret behind ISRO’s next Interplanetary Mission<\/a>
\nISRO: Touching space and beyond<\/a>
\nThe ISRO\/Antrix \u2013 Devas Deal<\/a>
\nSmart Eye In The Sky : The RISAT-1<\/a>
\nMars Orbiter Mission (MOM) \u2013 A Success for ISRO<\/a>
\nGSLV Test-Launch: A Baby Step Before the Giant Leap<\/a>
\nCongratulatory words pour in for Mars success<\/a>
\nNo Rewards For Mangalyaan Scientists<\/a>
\nHello! Mars, India Has Come! We\u2019re in the Orbit!<\/a>
\nIndia\u2019s quest to reach Mars \u2013 the countdown begins<\/a>
\nMangalyaan Successfully Embarks On Its Trajectory To Mars<\/a>
\nMOM : An Achievement Or A Luxury In The Name Of Space Exploration?<\/a>
\nIndia\u2019s Mars Mission: Is it an Attempt to Counter China\u2019s Space Ambition?<\/a>
\nMOM Overcomes Technical Hurdle And Back On Its Trajectory To Mars<\/a>
\nDestination Mars : The Mars Orbiter Mission 2013<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The need for a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): The last space exploration program of ISRO had attracted much flak and criticism arising from the fact that ISRO had used a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C25) to launch the Mangalyaan on its mission to Mars. The 1350 kilo Mangalyaan carries a payload of only […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,11315],"tags":[5699,2224,5648],"class_list":{"0":"post-15772","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-government","7":"category-india","8":"tag-gslv","9":"tag-polar-satellite-launch-vehicle","10":"tag-satellites"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15772"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45738,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15772\/revisions\/45738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}