India's space programme rocketed to greater heights with the successful launch of the second Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D2) here on Thursday at 4.58 pm on May 8, 2003.The launch took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, 100 km from Chennai. The thunderous lift off of the three-stage 49 m rocket was accompanied by applause from the scientists gathered in the mission and launch control rooms.
It carried an experimental communication satellite, designated G-Sat-2, weighing 1,800 kg. As the rocket soared higher and gathered speed, bright yellow flames were seen. Fire gushed forth and moments later thunder rolled across the spaceport.
For the key players of this flight, particularly the chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) K Kasturirangan and mission director R V Perumal, the minutes prior to lift off were one of nervous anticipation.
As the countdown began and there were seconds left for the blast-off of the GSLV-D2, some of the scientists clasped their hands in a silent prayer. At about 4.45 pm the final ‘go,' was given for the launch.
The rocket then blasted off, much to the relief of the scientists. In the mission control room, the GSLV team sat before their computers tense with excitement. The rocket which had disappeared out of sight was now attaining speed and height.
As the rocket reached a supersonic speed of 9.78 km/sec and exactly 1013 sec after it lifted off, the G-Sat-2 satellite was placed in the geostationary transfer orbit. The mission was successful. A few days later it will move to its final place in the geosynchronous orbit 36,000 km above the equator.
There was a mood of celebration in the mission control room with the scientists exchanging congratulatory handshakes. Kasturirangan formally declared the mission successful.
The GSLV project has the objective of acquiring launch capability for geosynchronous satellites. The first developmental flight (GSLV-D1) was successfully conducted on April 18, 2001 when a 1540 kg experimental satellite, GSAT-1, was placed in a GTO.
Payload specifications
The higher payload of the GSAT-2 has been achieved by incorporating enhanced propellant loading in core solid motor, high pressure engine in liquid propellant strap-on motors and in second stage of the vehicle, and optimisation of structural elements.
GSLV consists of hundreds of sub-systems, which are designed, built, tested and qualified before their integration for launch. Most of the vehicle's hardware like motor cases, inter-stages, payload fairing, engine components and electronic modules are built by 150 Indian industries, both from public and private sectors.
GSAT-2 carries four C-band transponders, two Ku-band transponders and a Mobile Satellite Service payload. Besides the communication payloads, the GSAT-2 also carries four piggyback experimental payloads like Total Radiation Dose Monitor, Surface Charge Monitor, Solar X-ray Spectrometer and Coherent Radio Beacon Experiment. (With PTI inputs)
| PERFORMANCE RECORDS OF INDIAN SPACE MISSIONS | |||
| Vehicle Launch | Dates | Result | |
| SLV-3E1 | Aug 10, 1979 | Partially successful | |
| SLV-3E2 | July 18, 1980 | Successful | |
| SLV-3D1 | May 31, 1981 | Successful | |
| SLV-3D2 | Apr 17, 1983 | Successful | |
| ASLV-D1 | Mar 24, 1987 | Unsuccessful due to Non-ignition of first stage | |
| ASLV-D2 | July 13, 1988 | Unsuccessful, the flight was normal only upto 46 seconds after lift off. | |
| ASLV-D3 | May 20, 1992 | Successful | |
| ASLV-D4 | May 4, 1994 | Successful | |
| PSLV-D1 | Sept 20, 1993 | Unsuccessful due to software error in on-board guidance and control processor | |
| PSLV-D2 | Oct 15, 1994 | Successful | |
| PSLV-D3 | March 21, 1996 | Successful | |
| PSLV-C1 | Sept 29, 1997 | Successful | |
| PSLV-C2 | MAy 26, 1999 | Successful | |
| GSLV-D1 | Mar 28, 2001 | Failed to lift out due to failure of the liquid strap-On stage | |
| GSLV-D1 | Apr 18, 2001 | Successful(re-launch) | |
| PSLV-C3 | Oct 22, 2001 | Successful | |
| PSLV-C4 | Sept 12, 2002 | Successful | |
| GSLV-D2 | May 8, 2002 | Successful | |
| TOTAL - 18 SUCCESS - 13 PARTIALLY SUCCESS - 1 FAIL - 4 | |||