'System failure' at PSLV launch

Sriharikota, Apr 28 (UNI) Even as ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair, Mission Director George Koshy and their team were celebrating the ''memorable and historic'' launch of a record ten satellites by PSLV-C9 here today, there were some anxious moments in the conference hall where the media could watch the progress of the entire mission.

On the screen put up by the ISRO, the blast off, the trajectory and the separation of the satellites Cartosat-2, India's first mini satellite, and one of the eight nanosatellites were clearly seen. The large team of mediapersons were anxiously waiting to confirm the separation of the remaining seven 'nanos' to file their reports, but in vain.

However, when Mr Koshy walked in a few minutes before Mr Nair for the media briefing, he told the journalists that the launch was with ''more than textbook precision'' and all the satellites had been placed in the intended orbit.

When he was informed that this was not displayed on the screen in the conference hall, he said the failure was being inquired into.

''The display system must have failed. We got the confirmation in our mission control,'' he explained.

All the satellites were put into orbit 1151.5 seconds after the launch, he said.

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