Countdown begins for GSLV-D3 launch at Sriharikota

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) Apr 14 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientists have started countdown at the Satish Dhavan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota for the first flight-testing of indigenous cryogenic engine on homespun rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D3).

The cryogenic engine is crucial for putting communication satellites weighing more than two tonnes into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

The GSLV-D3 would put the GSAT-4 satellite into the GTO.

According to the ISRO, the 29-hour countdown began at 11.27 a. m on Wednesday.

The 50-metre tall GSLV-D3 is scheduled to be launched from Sriharikota at 4.27 pm on Thursday.

The success of the GSLV-D 3 would take India into the elite club of space-faring nations comprising the United States, Russia, certain European countries, Japan, and China that possess complex cryogenic technology.

India which for the first time using indigenously built cryogenic stage and engine technology.

The GSAT-4, country's latest communication satellite weighs 2,220 kilograms and has a seven-year mission life.

The GSAT-4 satellite contains some new testing instruments on its board.

For Indian scientists it took nearly two decades to develop an indigenous cryogenic technology after its bid to acquire cryogenic propellant from Russia in 1992 failed in the face of US opposition.

The Cryogenic engine was developed by a dedicated team of scientists of the ISRO's Liquid Propulsions System Centre (LPSC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

The ISRO is using indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) for the first time in GSLV-D3.

The CUS has undergone full flight duration test of 800 seconds successfully.

For the first time the ISRO is also trying electric propulsion system during the launch of GSLV-D3 instead of liquid fuel. The move would enable the agency to extend the life of satellites by a couple of years. (ANI)