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GSLV relaunch may be postponed: ISRO

As the countdown for the launch of India's prestigious launch vehicle GSLV-D1 on April 18 began Monday, Indian Space Research Organisation indicated the possibility of 'a slight postponement' in its launch due to inclement weather.

At present, the scheduled time for the launch is 3.43 pm on April 18 but the time 'might have to be pushed forward' considering the weather conditions prevailing at Sriharikota, ISRO officials told PTI.

However, they said, ISRO had provided a launch window (the period best suited for launching satellite vehicles) for a week extending from April 18 to April 25, in addition to extension of a few hours on the scheduled day which is also included in the launch window.

ISRO officials said if the weather did play truant, the next best time would have to be considered based on the sun's position which was crucial for powering the solar arrays of the GSAT-1 experimental satellite, GSLV's mission payload.

The powering process begins immediately after the satellite is injected towards its position in space and the solar arrays unfold, which would be about 20 minutes after the GSLV lift-off.

Meanwhile, meterologists have indicated that there are conditions building up to a thunderstorm over several places in south India. Dr A L Koppar, director, of the Bangalore meterological centre, said there was every possibility of the weather deteriorating and 'thunderstorm conditions could continue for a few days.'

Three weeks after the GSLV mission was aborted in its first development test flight attempt on March 28, ISRO had announced that the launch would take place on April 18 while keeping the launch window open upto April 25.

In a temporary setback, the first launch attempt was aborted just a second before lift-off after it was detected that one of the strap-on boosters did not develop the required thrust.

Space scientists had found that a defective plumbing in the oxidiser flow line of the engine had resulted in one of the strap-on boosters not developing the required thrust. The vehicle was safely disarmed immediately after the mission was aborted, as worked out in advance in such contigencies and the systems were brought into action to protect it.

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