RADHAKRISHNA RAO / BANGALORE
India launched its second geostationary satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) on 8 May from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Shriharikota. The three-stage booster carried the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) 1.85t GSAT-2 mobile-communications technology satellite into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
GSAT-2 became the first Indian-launched satellite to reach geostationary earth orbit (GEO) on 11 May. The first GSLV fell short in April 2001, placing GSAT-1 into a lower-than-intended orbit. The satellite, which will be located at 48°E in GEO, carries four C-band and two Ku-band transponders, a mobile satellite service payload and four scientific experiments.
The GSLV used a Russian-made cryogenic upper stage - but, according to ISRO, the next development flight, in late 2004 or early 2005, will use an Indian-developed liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen upper stage. This will be able to boost a 2.25t satellite into GTO. ISRO chairman Dr K Kasturirangan says the indigenously developed engine has completed a series of performance tests. Testing of the complete upper stage will begin within the next few months, he says.
Although 1.8 billion rupees ($38 million) has been earmarked for development of a GSLV MkIII growth version able to carry a 4t payload by 2007, ISRO says the basic GSLV could be used to launch 2t-class satellites built as an interim step to meet India's growing demand for transponder capacity.
Such satellites could carry up to 24 low-power or 12 high-power transponders, with the potential for five or six commercial launches a year, and could be used to boost capacity once India is capable of launching heavier spacecraft.
India plans to declare the GSLV operational after its third flight. "This particular kind of launcher can be very competitive when you talk about launching a 2t-class satellite," says Dr Kasturirangan. "But then there have to be customers for 2t-class satellites. There are a few and we are in discussions with them."
Source: Flight International
