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Space

Failure reported in India's satellite launch vehicle for second time

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Dec 25, IRNA -- Launch of India's latest communications satellite GSAT-5P onboard homegrown GSLV-F06, powered by Russian cryogenic engine, failed Saturday when the rocket developed a snag soon after lift-off from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Hyderabad state.

The rocket blasted-off at around 4 pm from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the end of the 29-hour countdown but was hit by a snag in the first stage itself, pti said quoting Indian Space Research Organization.

'The incident occurred in the first stage itself,' ISRO said, adding, details would be disclosed later.

This is the second failure this year for Indian Space Research Organization after the previous GSLV mission with the country's maiden cryogenic engine hit a snag and the rocket plunged into the Bay of Bengal on April 15 this year.

GSAT-5P, carrying 24 C-band and 12 extended C-band transponders, was meant for augmenting communications services currently provided by the Indian National Satellite System.

ISRO had postponed the December 20 launch of the Geo-Stationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F06), in its seventh mission, after a minor leak was noticed in the Russian Cryogenic engine during the pre-countdown checks.

The last GSLV mission (GSLV-D3) failed after the malfunctioning of indigenous cryogenic stage, dampening the country's hopes of joining the elite club of five nations with such capability.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30142114



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