India set to launch satellite with indigenously developed cryogenic engine

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 29 (ANI): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair has said that the country was all set to launch a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) using an indigenously developed cryogenic engine.

Talking to reporters here on Monday, Nair said, "I have to say that it is yet another historic event for ISRO. Till now we were using Russian built cryogenic stages. We had developed our own cryogenic engine two years ago and we have now prepared a stage that could be propelled. Today we have flagging it from Mahendragiri and most likely we will be able to launch GSLV using an indigenously developed cryogenic engine by the year-end," he said.

"The launch will most likely be in December this year," he added.

GSLV flights were launched so far by India using Russian cryogenic engine and with this, India would become self-dependent in space launch vehicle technology.

Last week ISRO scientists added another feather to their cap by successfully launching Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The vehicle carried the 960 kilograms indigenous Oceansat 2 and six other nano satellites, including four Cubesats and two Rubinsats in its present mission.

Nair also termed findings made by India's first moon mission, as a path-breaking discovery would modify the next mission accordingly.

"We have got more data than what we have expected in the three experiments. The discovery of water (on the moon) is a major one. Not only the Indian scientists but also scientists all around the globe view it as a big thing. The origin of water is still a mystery and we have to find more on this. Then we have to ascertain whether there is more water near the pole. According to this we may have to modify Mission Chandrayaan-2. We are contemplating that," he said.

As the news came out about Chandrayaan tracing water molecules on the moon's surface, scientists across the globe rejoiced at the discovery and hope that it will pave the way for growing vegetation in the earth's natural satellite in future.

Americas National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) thanked the efforts of ISRO, which traced water molecules on the moon's surface.

ISRO scientists last week said that the Chandrayan 1 spacecraft found several examples of evidence confirming water on moon.

India is planning to launch its second Moon Mission by 2013. Besides this, the country is also preparing to send astronauts in space by 2015. (ANI)