ISRO engine to be tested

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in an effort to attain self-reliability is all set to flight-test the cryogenic engine by early 2006.

This is expected to be major step in attaining indigenous geo-synchronous launch capability with overlap in the area of strategic technologies.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Saturday, G Madhavan Nair, chairman, ISRO said, "The engine has been in development for a few years now, with several test runs conducted on the ground. It has now qualified for a flight test, and all parameters are looking good. Systems integration is currently on."

The indigenous engine will form the final stage of another development flight of the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

Earlier GSLV flights were powered by Russian cryogenic engines, which were supplied to India several years ago despite stiff opposition from the United States under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

GSLV class launch vehicles are intended for placing heavy satellites in geo-synchronous orbit, some 36,000 km above earth. It is this range which makes such a vehicle a potential inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) though cryogenic engines are not usually the choice for ICBMs.

The PSLV series is used for the less demanding polar sun-synchronous orbits, employing only solid and liquid stages. India is developing her own cryogenic engines to negate reliance on foreign rockets like the Ariane to launch her geo-synchronous satellites, which include the Insat series.

Nair added that the Chandrayaan moon mission is on course and several nations had expressed interest in including their payloads on the satellite.

This includes a mini synthetic aperture radar (SAR) from the NASA, and other systems from Europe, he said. Isro is currently engaged in setting up a 34-metre antenna which will be required for the project.

Detailing plans for the launches , Nair said: "We have scheduled four launches. Cartosat - I by PSLV towards end of April 2005 for mapping and imaging purposes, Insat 4-A sometime in May, depending on the slot given by the Ariane company, and Cartosat-2 and Insat 4-C later on in the year."

He added that a PSLV launch is scheduled for 2006 and is a totally commercial launch, paid for by the Italian Agile, a 350 kg satellite.