Mishap led to GSLV-F02 disintegration: ISRO Chief

Sriharikota, Jul 10: ''It was a mishap in the first stage that led to the disintegration of GSLV-F02,'' ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said.

Addressing the Scientists at the Mission Control Centre (MCC), minutes after the GSLV, carrying the heaviest 2,168 tonne INSAT-4C communication satellite, plunged into the sea, Mr Nair said a mishap in the first stage led to the mission's failure.

Mr Nair announced in the MCC that the vehicle disintegrated 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 added.

The launch was originally scheduled to take place at 1638 hrs, but was deferred to 1738 hrs after the completion of the rescheduled countdown.

UNI