India's indigenous rocket engine test on schedule

The countdown to the launch of India’s most advanced communication satellite, GSLV-D3, propelled by an indigenous cryogenic stage engine, began at 11.37 am today.

The successful launch using the home-grown engine — powered by liquefied oxygen and hydrogen — would place India in the league of nations which own this restricted technology, along with the US, Russia, Japan and China.

Developed by scientists of the Liquid Propulsions System Centre (LPSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, the technology would help India have the capacity to place satellites weighing over two tonnes into the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

“All activities are progressing as scheduled,” an Isro spokesperson said. The 50-metre tall GSLV-D3 with GSAT-4 is scheduled to blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 4.27 pm on April 15.

India began work on the home-made cryogenic technology after its bid to acquire cryogenic propellant from Russia in 1992 failed. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, there emerged stiff opposition from the US, which led to India being denied the technology.

In the past, India purchased cryogenic engines from Russia and Isro had used Russian cryogenic stages for the last five GSLV flights. “But, it was important for India to develop an indigenous technology,” said Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre M C Dathan.

According to an Isro spokesperson, GSAT-4 is India’s 19th geostationary satellite built by the space agency and the fourth in the GSAT series. The previous GSAT series was launched by GSLV vehicles in 2001, 2003 and 2004. After commissioning, GSAT-4 will be one among the 11 operational geostationary satellites, the spokesman said.