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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 09, 2003

India Test-fires GSLV-D2

The second developmental flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite launch Vehicle (GSLV) began from the Satish Dhawan space port in Sriharikota, south India, at 4:58 p.m. local time Thursday.


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The second developmental flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite launch Vehicle (GSLV) began from the Satish Dhawan space port in Sriharikota, south India, at 4:58 p.m. local time Thursday.

Carrying a 1,800 kg experimental communication satellite GSAT-2,the GSLV-D2 soared into the blue sky majestically from the spindle-shaped island off bay of Bengal, according to the Press Trust of India.

A group of scientists, engineers and technicians, who toiled hard for the most technologically challenging project undertaken so far under the Indian Space Program, were overwhelmed with excitement and joy when the 49-meter high, three-stage vehicle, weighing 414 ton, soared into the sky, leaving behind columns of fire and fumes.

Described as the most challenging launch undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) so far, the second developmental flight of GSLV-D2 took place more than two years after its first successful test flight, GSLV-D1 on April 18, 2001,which placed GSAT-1, the first technological experimental satellite, in a Geosynchronous Transfer orbit.

The GSLV-D2 is an improved version mainly in respect of its capability to carry a higher payload, according to ISRO sources.

As in the case of the first one, the GSLV-D2 is also a three stage vehicle which adopts the flight proven solid and liquid stages of ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and Russian cryogenic engines in the upper stage.

The GSAT-2, the technology experiment satellite to be carried by GSLV- D2 on Thursday has four C-band, two Ku-band beam transponders and one MSS (mobile satellite service) payload.

According to ISRO sources, it will also carry instruments to conduct experiments like total radiation dose monitor, surface charge potential monitor, coherent radio beacon experiment and solar X-ray spectrometer.

Once commissioned into ISRO's satellite launch system after onemore test flight, the GSLV is expected to provide the country an indigenous launch system which could be used quite economically for future launches of heavier communication satellites like the two-ton INSAT series.


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