GSAT-5P launch fails, satellite vehicle explodes mid-air

[Markus]

That is true...however the GSLV is still being developed.It is not ready yet. It will get there eventually.

The PSLV has been launching satellites for the last 17 years with I think one failure in 16 or 17 launches.

ISRO needs to work more harder on GSLV.

Even though PSLV is en extremely reliable launch vehicle,but for missions with higher payload, we will have to use the GSLV.

 

[rockstarIN]

Better luck next time ISRO, after all its space mission, defying nature's power..

All the best..

 

[silent hill]

WHEN YOU MAKE SOME THING BY YOUR OWN ,YOU MUST GET READY TO FACE FAILURES TOO. anyway thts a space mission . hope you distinguish btween two

the rocket engine was made in russia

 

[Kinetic]

the rocket engine was made in russia

Sems like you have very poor knowledge about this. The GSLV is a multi-stage geostationary satellite launch vehicle which put satellite 36000 km away in orbit. Can you imagine that? Cryogenic engine is another stage in it. Forget GSLV our PSLV put satellite into the orbit of moon which is nearly 385000 km away!

Look at this.... only very few countries has such capability.

 

[ajtr]

Jinxed GSLV blows​

December 26, 2010 11:36:57 PM

PNS | Chennai

For the third time, a GSLV disappointed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the nation on Saturday. The ambitious GSLV-F06 mission had to be aborted following a technical snag in first stage of the launch. The rocket deviated from its intended path and exploded midair, destroying the `125-crore communication satellite GSAT-5P, within a minute of the launch.

The lift-off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 4.04 pm, with India’s most advanced and heaviest telecommunication satellite — the 2,300-kg GSAT-5P — had began smoothly with no indication of any problem, after a 30-hour countdown. But as it rose into the sky to 8 km and 2.5 km away from Sriharikota, it lost the trajectory and viewers were stumped by white, brick-red and grey smoke filling the sky soon after an explosion was visible. The debris was then seen raining down into the Bay of Bengal.

ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, who spoke to the media after the mission was aborted, said the destruct command was issued when the scientists realised the control and command signal failed to reach the activation system in the first stage itself.

“At T-63 seconds, we saw the visuals of it breaking up. It also became clear on the radar and the destruct command was issued,” he said, adding, “We hope to get an assessment of what exactly triggered the problem…We will go back to it.” Apologising for the failure, he said: “We learn from failures and such failures lead to success.”

The GSAT-5P was not only supposed to augment communication services with better clarity, but also replace and retire the INSAT-3E, which was placed into orbit in 2003.

This launch was scheduled for December 20 (Monday), but was rescheduled after a leak was detected in the Russian cryogenic engine. But what is shocking, even for scientists, is that the snag happened in the first stage, much before the cryogenic stage. Indian has been maintaining a 100 per cent success in the first stage of any launch. Which is why Saturday’s failure is being viewed as very serious and tragic.

Of the seven launches of GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), three have failed. Among the four successful launches, two are considered partial. On April 15 this year, GSLV-D3 was also a failure. It was primarily launched to test the indigenously developed cryogenic engine. But the Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) could not accomplish the mission objectives. But the Russian cryogenic engine was used this time.

On July 10, 2006, the launch of INSAT-4C on board the GSLV — which also failed — was launched with the help of a Russian cryogenic engine. That mission too had to be aborted as the rocket had veered away from its trajectory path (and was apparently heading towards Chennai). It was then analysed that the cause of the failure was the sudden loss of thrust in one of the four liquid propellant strap-on stages immediately after the lift-off. A similar loss of thrust is also suspected in the latest mishap.

The GSAT-5P satellite, with a life span of 12 years, had 36 transponders — automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals. It would have taken ISRO’s transponder capacity to about 235 from the existing 200 in the orbit.

ISRO’s success with the lighter vehicle PSLV has been tremendous. This was the vehicle that launched Chandrayaan 1.

However, ISRO is uncomfortable with the heavier GSLV, whose success has been limited. But the future of Indian space mission lies with GSLV, which would be used for Chandrayaan 2 and any manned missions. So, ISRO needs to really overcome the technicalities that are hindering the successes of GSLV.



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GSLV
By Das, Atlanta, USA on 12/26/2010 7:18:06 PM

I totally disagree that it is a fit case to be termed as "learn from failure". These technologies are not state of the art. It is there for sixty yrs and small companies are launching these at 1/3 of cost in the World. We can but should not fool our public by using big words. It is a case of bad workmanship (some cable not firing). Through auditing and accountability need to be ensured. Not big words..again..these are old technology and one doesnt need the brightest..just mediocre scientist.

Failed MIssions
By SAKSHI on 12/26/2010 2:26:13 PM

While failures are expected in any such venture are we doing enough and taking all precautions? Firstly sabotage. ISRO has grown into a mammoth organization. It is time they payed more attention to security and sabotage. We live in a world where there are far too many interests against us. Then ISRO has to guard against the trend to take unnecessary risks. Compared with the Arianne people our failures are much more. There a failure will cost more for the careless.So let us all collectively tell

GSLV
By akash lal on 12/26/2010 6:56:48 AM

It is time to abandon space program for India.2nd rate scientists can not hope to be in 1st world legue.The best are in US living here as 3rd class citizens for making some $ & working in useless civilian indusrties as hindus/indians are not taken in to jobs with "sensitive" technologies. In India the rulers nor the ruled have any feeling for thier nation .It is our charecter, to just look for ourselves & our families.It will always be a 3rd world 3rd rate country.

 

[PAFAce]

What's there to save face in issuing a self -destruct command?

When a rocket goes out of control, there is risk there it may fall on civilian areas, if the rocket gets destroyed on its own in mid-air well and good, if it starts falling down with with tonnes and tonnes of fuel still on board, then its asked to self destruct.

Whats "Face-saving" over here?

I have already presented one possible reason for the failure. There seems to be too little time between the original break-off and the explosion for there to be consensus and transfer of command. In any case, why not tell your people you purposely destroyed a billions of dollars worth of equipment to save lives than admit your design was flawed?

Obviously, I could be way off. I have no inside information whatsoever. There's no reason so get so damn defensive about it. I probably have more in common with the engineers who built the rocket than most here, maybe including you.

Better luck next time ISRO, after all its space mission, defying nature's power..

All the best..

Lol! Man you guys are so dramatic. Lay off the Bollywood-sauce homies.

 

[Markus]

I have already presented one possible reason for the failure. There seems to be too little time between the original break-off and the explosion for there to be consensus and transfer of command. In any case, why not tell your people you purposely destroyed a billions of dollars worth of equipment to save lives than admit your design was flawed?

Obviously, I could be way off. I have no inside information whatsoever. There's no reason so get so damn defensive about it. I probably have more in common with the engineers who built the rocket than most here, maybe including you.

One:-
The total cost of the mission (including equipment onboard) was around 325 crores (i.e even less than 100 million USD)

Two:-
I see no reason to believe that GSLV design is flawed, even though it has had it own share of failures, it has met success too!

Three:-
The Hindu : News / National : We will now review GSLV programme: ISRO

The Range Safety Officer in the Mission Control Centre gave the ‘destruct' command to the vehicle 63 seconds after the lift-off from its second launch pad and it was destroyed.

The rocket was asked to self-destruct.

Its upto you if you would like to go to what ISRO says or not.

The low time lag between explosion and transfer of command to self destruct as you write above requires technical analysis, how can we assume the the time difference as to when the command was given and when the rocket blew up.

 

[Screambowl]

if there is any deviation in the trajectory, orientation, attitude and altitude, they will send the self destruction command.
and this time it was sent.
What caused the failure is still being analyzed but as far as till now its believed to be some program crash down which was responsible to transfer commands to the first stage.

 

[SrNair]

Finally!!!! India joins the Cryogenic Club-GSLV D5 Successfully launched | Page 35 | Pakistan Defence
at last we won after 3 years

 

[me_itsme]

Lol.......

 

[Cherokee]

Karma is such a nasty bitch !!

 

[Iggy]

@sreekumar harami kahi ke!! you gave me a heart attack!!

 

[Srinivas]

@sreekumar harami kahi ke!! you gave me a heart attack!!

@seiko Are you in sleep since yesterday morning or what..... ???

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Karma is such a nasty bitch !!

Enjoying the old replies?
ya Karma does rock in a way

 

[SrNair]

@sreekumar harami kahi ke!! you gave me a heart attack!!

I saw some jealous guys dancing when our first launch failed .But w cant see these smart guys and their cheerleaders in thread I posted.So we can now get some nostalgic feelings about what happened 3 years ago.That all