Double blow for India's scientific programme, GSLV-FO2 fails

Sriharikota, July 10 (UNI) A day after the abortive Agni III mission, India's ambitious scientific programme today suffered another major blow when the GSLV-F02 disintegrated soon after take off and plunged into the Bay of Bengal.

The 49-metres long, 414 tonne, three-stage vehicle blasted off at the rescheduled time of 1738 hrs from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre only to disintegrate and fall into the sea after suffering a mishap in the first stage.

A pall of gloom descended on the Mission Control Centre (MCC) and ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair said the failure of the mission was due to a mishap in the first stage.

''There seems to have been a mishap in the first stage. We will analyse the data and the reasons for the failure,'' he said in his brief statement.

The launch, originally scheduled at 1638 hrs, was deferred at the last minute due to technical reasons.

This was the first failure for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which was on the threshold of achieving a major milestone with the launch of INSAT Communication Class Satellite from its own spaceport, after 12 successful missions since May 4, 1994. It was also the first failure after Mr Nair took over as ISRO chief in September 2003, and guided three consecutive succcessful launches.

It was a double blow for India as the unsuccessful launch of GSLV-F02, carrying the heaviest 2,168 kg INSAT-4C communication satellite, cames a day after the failure of the maiden flight of advanced long-range nuclear capable ballistic missile ''Agni-III'' yesterday.

The 'Agni-III, testfired from the Integrated Test Range at the Wheeler Island inside the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast, had fallen into the sea after developing a technical snag.

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