India satellite rocket explodes after take-off

http://www.timesofearth.com/Technology/?NT=2&nid=31562 NEW DELHI, INDIA -- A rocket carrying an Indian communications satellite exploded just after lift-off on Saturday, in the second launch failure for India's space programme this year.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) exploded in the first stage of flight, leaving a trail of smoke and fire behind it.

It had just lifted off from the Sriharikota space centre on Saturday in Andhra Pradesh state, and was carrying a GSAT-5P communications satellite.

K Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO), said the rocket developed an error 47 seconds after initiating lift-off and lost command, leading to a higher angle in the flight.

"That caused a higher stress, breaking up the vehicle," he said.

He also said that the cause of the crash needed to be looked into in detail.

A similar rocket on a developmental flight plunged into the Bay of Bengal in April. The ISRO said that accident was caused by a rotor seizing and a rupture in the turbine casing, probably due to excessive pressure and thermal stresses.

Yashpal, a retired Indian scientist and independent commentator, said he was very disappointed by Saturday's failure, but that other countries have also experienced such problems.

India is planning its first manned space flight in 2016.

An Indian satellite launched in 2008 to orbit the moon was abandoned last year after communication links snapped and scientists lost control of the spacecraft.

Since 1994, India's space programme has launched a number of locally made satellites. It has also been able to launch nine successful space flights consecutively.

India is the fifth country after the United States, Russia, China and France to enter the commercial satellite launch market.

The country has sought to convert its rise as an economic power - built on a thriving high-tech sector - into global clout in other areas.

It is also aiming to expand its satellite launch business to about $120 million a year, which is estimated to be a quarter of China's present launch business.

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• satellite
• rocket
• explodes
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• take
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[GAURAV1140]

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."-Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

This is a quotation every Indian must remember for the next two decades.

[New0000111]

good luck to the first indies man fly in space in 2016.

[MephiticFilms]

Hey, the U.S. had plenty of failures at the beginning of its space program.

[MephiticFilms]

@miguelnglopes Why so nationalistic? I think space exploration should be a combined effort between all nations. And besides, NASA will have a new capsule by 2015.

[kdc43]

@eatingcatshit And this is from who calls himself "EATING CAT SHIT"!!! Check yourself into a mental hospital.

[wassa1966]

@Blahblobify Just no need to be rude about a race of people just because your a fucking idiot, Only wish you was on that Rocket at the time..... No wonder why the WORLD dislike you yanks so must....

[BadAss708]

@Blahblobify

have you ever been to India? and do you understand a thing about economy?

[miguelnglopes]

Mistakes make you learn. There'll be Indians and Chinese in Space soon. And no Americans!

[codninja]

@codninja youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ens­g