After two unsuccessful attempts, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set a launch date as August 19 for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) D5 which will have an indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage.
The GSLV D5 is set to launch India’s communications satellite GSAT 14 and the launch time has been scheduled for 4.50 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sri Harikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The launch comes at a time when the previous two launches of the GSLV with the indigenous upper stage have failed. In April 2010, the Indian built stage ignited briefly and resulted in the loss of the GSAT 4 satellite. The next mission in December of the same year using a Russian built engine also failed and the upcoming mission has a lot of ISRO scientists crossing their fingers in hope of a successful launch.
In the past three years, extensive testing has taken place on the GSLV D5 and the Chairman K Radhakrishnan has repeatedly said that more than 35 ground tests have been conducted since 2010. The successful launch of the GSLV D5 might also see it being used for the Chandrayaan-2 mission which will feature an Orbiter Craft Module and a Lander Craft module carrying a rover developed by ISRO.