GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4 (India) (Launch failed April 15, 2010)

[Zipi]

(Launch time: Approx. 11:00 GMT (7 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India

India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) will launch the GSAT 4 experimental communications satellite for the Indian Space Research Organization. Codenamed GSLV D3, the launch will be the first GSLV to use an indigenous third stage cryogenic engine.

Sriharikota in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sriharikota
Launch Brochure: http://isro.org/gslv-d3/pdf/GSLV-D3_GSA ... ochure.pdf

GSLV in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosynchro ... ch_Vehicle
Space Launch Report GSLV Page: http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/gslv.html
GSLV in Günter's Space Pages: http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.h ... u/gslv.htm
Astronautix GSLV Page: http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/gslv.htm
ISRO GSLV Page: http://www.isro.org/Launchvehicles/GSLV/gslv.aspx
ISRO GSLV Flash Presentation: http://www.isro.org/scripts/gslv-flash.aspx
ISRO GSLV-D3 Page: http://isro.org/gslv-d3/gslv-d3.aspx
ISRO GSLV-D3 Photo Gallery: http://isro.org/gslv-d3/Imagegallery/launchvehicle.aspx

Typical Parameters of GSLV:
Lift-off weight: 414t
Payload: 2t to 2.5t in to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)
Height: 49m

First Stage:

S139 Solid rocket motor burning HTPB.

Boosters:

Four boosters each having one L40H Vikas engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH.

L40H Vikas in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L40H_Vikas

Second Stage:

One GS2 Vikas engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH.

GS2 Vikas in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GS2_Vikas

Third Stage:

Indigenous Cryogenic Upperstage (CUS) is powered by a regeneratively cooled cryogenic engine, which works on staged combustion cycle developing a thrust of 69.5 kN in vacuum. It uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) as its fuel.

Some more info from ISRO's press release: http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/script ... Nov15_2007

GSAT-4:

GSAT-4 in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSAT-4
GSAT-4 in Günter's Space Pages: http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.h ... gsat-4.htm
Google Search for GSAT-4: http://www.google.com/search?q=gsat-4
ISRO GSAT-4 Photos: http://isro.org/gslv-d3/Imagegallery/satellite.aspx

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Reuters video report of coming launch:
http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story ... d=70629364

ISRO To Launch GSAT-4:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnxEj_5dYy8[/youtube]

Flight-testing of cryogenic stage of GSLV in April: (in indian)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQC3aiaLYec[/youtube]

GSLV-D3 to be launched by Dec: (in indian)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd8GwjWOsp4[/youtube]

GSLV-D3 to blast off on April 15: (in indian)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlTYKuuY0Nc[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Currently best quesses for livestream are:

http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_l ... x7&live=tv
http://ibnlive.in.com/

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Currently best quesses for livestream are:

http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_l ... x7&live=tv
http://ibnlive.in.com/

I report the first one working, probably flash player, second one requires registration, didn't try.

I go check everything else, impressive info collection, i love it

 

[RVHM]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Without meaning to be disrespectful guys, but come on... It's one thing to be interested in space, and a wholly different thing to be interested in a puny weak Indian firework launching the umpteenth communications satellite. :roll:

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Apparently you misunderstand the purpose of the Missions and Launches Forum.

How many fireworks of comparable size, launching communication satellites, have you done?

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Without meaning to be disrespectful guys, but come on... It's one thing to be interested in space, and a wholly different thing to be interested in a puny weak Indian firework launching the umpteenth communications satellite. :roll:

You have quite heavy fireworks if 49m tall rocket is comparable to those... :roll: And I'm more interested of the engineering/technology of these things than space itself.

This particular rocket type has some very "interesting" design solutions, like solid rocket motor core at first stage and liquid boosters around it. These different implementations of technology make watching of launches interesting and therefore I try to follow as many launches and launch vehicles as possible.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Without meaning to be disrespectful guys, but come on... It's one thing to be interested in space, and a wholly different thing to be interested in a puny weak Indian firework launching the umpteenth communications satellite. :roll:

You are on the wrong site and what you do, is called flaming, and i think on the border of trolling.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

ibnlive.in.com : GSLV-D3 launched using Indian cryogenic engine

Posted on Apr 15, 2010 at 16:32 | Updated Apr 15, 2010 at 16:42

Sriharikota: India joined an elite club of nations on Thursday when it launched the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D3) using an Indian-designed and built cryogenic engine for the first time.

The rocket lifted from the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) launch pad in Sriharikota at 1627 hrs IST.

The GSLV-D3 will put the 2.2-tonne communication satellite GSAT-4 into the geo transfer orbit (GTO) on Thursday evening.

Till now ISRO had been using Russian cryogenic engines in its GSLV missions as the United States had forced Moscow not to sell the cryogenic technology to India in 1992.

Ready to launch :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knXcyFUmHew[/youtube]

Nice shots, Indian :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j71okQ7UKYs[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIsMUyowiKs[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjeyoErixCc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqad7QC-9Jk[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Better launch video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj2V_-Ywmdg[/youtube]

Problem wondering at India's national TV:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2qDnz0jY5k[/youtube]

 

[RVHM]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

Without meaning to be disrespectful guys, but come on... It's one thing to be interested in space, and a wholly different thing to be interested in a puny weak Indian firework launching the umpteenth communications satellite. :roll:

You are on the wrong site and what you do, is called flaming, and i think on the border of trolling.

No, seriously. This Indian launch:

* Duplicates things that the USSR and US did five decades ago and have done thousands of time since.
* Only sends into orbit a test communications satellite, not precisely the most exciting payload in the world. It’s not like it’s lifting JIMO or MSL.
* Is not even spectacular, since it is a puny rocket and in no way compares to the awe of watching a Saturn V, Space Shuttle, Ariane 5 or EELV launch.
* Is not even a masterpiece of engineering, since it is a poorly constructed Frankenstein of a solid core and liquid boosters. You would have thought that, if that was a good option, either the US or some other space power would have used it before.

Frankly, it is yaaaaaaawn-boring. Please tell me one unique feature of this launch.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

That's not the point. We cover all launches in this forum. If you find it boring, feel free to ignore it. In fact, please do.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

They say they will repeat launch with the new cryo stage in a year, and i wish them the best of luck.

From : http://isro.org/gslv-d3/pdf/GSLV-D3_GSA ... ochure.pdf

It seams, it was during second stage firing, or not firing at all. They mentioned possible problems with vernier engines ignition. I guess more details will come in as soon as they manage to analyse data they have.

I'm not sure, if this explains the loss of communication. Perhaps it exploded ?

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

www.spaceflightnow.com : Indian rocket tumbles back to Earth during test launch

BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: April 15, 2010

A new hydrogen-fueled third stage tumbled out of control during the launch of India's most powerful rocket Thursday, dooming the $74 million test flight and dealing a blow to the country's burgeoning space program.

The objectives of the sixth flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle "were not met fully," said K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization.

The primary goal of the launch was to demonstrate a new Indian-built cryogenic third stage consuming super cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants. The cryogenic engine was supposed to ignite about five minutes after liftoff.

"The cryo stage ignition was issued as planned by the on-board computer," Radhakrishnan said. "Indications are that the cryo engine ignited. This is to be confirmed after detailed analysis of the data. We saw the vehicle was tumbling, indicating the controllability was lost, most probably [because] the two vernier engines, small cryo engines, would not have ignited and developed the necessary control force."

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

en.rian.ru : India to return to Russian boosters after failed rocket launch

17:49 16/04/2010

India will temporarily go back to using Russian-produced space equipment after its indigenous GSLV rocket failed, a spokesman for Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said on Friday.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV D3, fell into the Bay of Bengal 304 seconds after liftoff as its cryogenic engine failed to perform. The rocket tumbled, lost altitude and finally splashed down in the sea.

'Five launches are scheduled for the 2010-2011 fiscal year [which began April 1], including two GSLV and three PSLV launches. The next two GSLV will be launched with Russian cryogenic engines," ISRO spokesman S. Satish said.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4

GSAT-4 Rocket Lost, But Precious Payload Safe

by Killugudi Jayaraman
Bangalore (IANS) Apr 19, 2010
A fateful but providential decision by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) saved a precious Indo-Israeli science payload from crashing into the sea in the failed GSLV launch mission Thursday.

Under the original plan, the ultraviolet telescope called TAUVEX was to be carried by GSAT-4, which plunged into the Bay of Bengal after the indigenously built cryogenic stage failed to fire up.

But as it turned out, for technical reasons, ISRO decided at the last minute not to include the TAUVEX and the rocket flew without it. And now the payload is safe in ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) in Bangalore awaiting next launch.

While an ISRO expert panel will meet in Thiruvananthapuram Sunday to analyse the telemetry data from the ill-fated mission to pin point the cause of failure, a former ISRO scientist, who worked on cryogenic engines in the early stages of its development, says an explosion cannot be ruled out.

The Space News magazine quoting Nambi Narayanan, who formerly headed the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, said that explosion can occur during "hard start" - that is when a rich mixture of fuel and oxidizer is suddenly ignited in vacuum.

ISRO Scientists Analysing GSLV-D3 Flight Data
(PTI) Top space scientists are analysing flight data from GSLV-D3 to zero in on the reasons for the non-ignition of indigenous cryogenic engine which is believed to have caused the mission failure, ISRO sources said today. "The scientists are closely looking at the data obtained from the GSLV-D3 flight for detailed analysis", to be carried out at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, they told PTI here.

SLV mission: Scientists say cryogenic engine had ignited
Thiruvananthapuram (IANS) A team of Indian space scientists has established that the indigenously built cryogenic engine had ignited for a second during the failed GSLV mission Thursday. "This took place for a second and then the fuel supply to power turbo got blocked. The (Indian Space Research Organisation) chairman and we knew this on Thursday but then we wanted to be doubly sure about it. And now this has been substantiated with the data. By all means this is a great achievement," said a senior scientist who did not wish to be identified.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 15, GSLV-D3 - GSAT 4 (India)

http://www.spacenews.com : India Traces GSLV Crash to Turbo Pump Failure

Fri, 9 July, 2010

By K.S. Jayaraman

BANGALORE, India — A turbo pump malfunction is being blamed for the April 15 launch failure of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said July 9 that investigators traced the failure to a turbo pump malfunction that abruptly stopped the flow of liquid hydrogen fuel to the thrust chamber of the rocket’s domestically built third stage just 2.2 seconds after its ignition. ISRO said in a statement that investigators do not know for sure why the turbo pump failed but suspect that excessive pressure built up and thermal stresses produced “gripping at one of the seal locations” that caused a rotor to seize and rupture the turbine casing. A series of ground tests are planned to confirm the scenario, ISRO said

ISRO aims to flight test the upper-stage engine within a year “after incorporating necessary corrective measures,” the statement said. The next two GSLVs, meanwhile, will use Russian cryogenic stages.

 

[EarthlingX]

spaceflightnow.com : India blames April rocket mishap on third stage pump

Posted: July 9, 2010

BY STEPHEN CLARK

The doomed launch of India's most powerful rocket in April was brought down by a turbopump failure in the vehicle's homemade third stage engine, the Indian Space Research Organization announced Friday.

The GSLV's indigenous third stage during launch preparations. Credit: ISRO

ISRO said its engineers traced the problem to two potential causes.

The scenarios include "gripping at one of the seal location(s) and seizure of rotor and rupture of turbine casing caused probably due to excessive pressure rise and thermal stresses," the statement said.

Engineers say the third stage ignition sequence started as predicted 294 seconds after liftoff, and both the main engine and two steering thrusters worked as planned for approximately 2.2 seconds, based on acceleration data from the rocket.

"However, the thrust build up did not progress as expected due to non-availability of liquid hydrogen supply to the thrust chamber of the main engine," the ISRO report said.

The hydrogen turbopump also started up normally, reaching a peak of 34,800 rpm at nearly full power. But the pump speed started dipping after less than a second and stopped completely moments later, according to ISRO.

The third stage failure put the rocket in an uncontrolled spin and it crashed back into the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean.

The ISRO press release said the rocket's new navigation and computer systems and the new composite payload shroud all worked as expected during the April launch.

ISRO said Friday the next two GSLV flights will use the older Russian third stage, while another launch of the Indian-built cryogenic engine should occur within a year.