Cryogenic Stage to be used in GSLV missions

Chennai, Nov 16 (UNI) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a new high with the successful testing of the indigenous cryogenic stage and is all set to use this hi-tech engine in its future Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) missions.

The indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage was successfully tested for the full duration of 720 seconds at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu last evening.

Describing it as a significant achievement for the ISRO in its rocket development programme, a jubilant ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair told UNI today that the future GSLV launches would have the indigenous cryogenic engine in the upper stage.

''Though we have two more Russian Cryogenic Stage with us, we will use it at an appropriate time. We will mostly rely on our own Cryogenic Stage for the future GSLV missions,'' he said.

The next GSLV launch, planned some time in the middle of next year, would use the indigenous cryogenic stage, Mr Nair said.

''It is a very significant milestone as developing the engine is complex. Converting the stage has its own challenges...We have deciphered both. Now our GSLV has become totally indigenous. In future, all our GSLV missions will have our own cryogenic stage,'' he added.

With this test, the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage had been fully qualified on the ground and the flight stage was getting ready for use in the next mission of GSLV, he said.

(Eds: Here, pick up suitably from earlier series).

UNI