ISRO clears GSLV-D5 for 5 January launch

Decks have now been cleared for the 5 January launch of India's rejuvenated indigenous cryogenic engine- fitted GSLV-D5 carrying communication satellite GSAT-14 from the spaceport of Sriharikota with the mission receiving the nod from ISRO's Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) yesterday.

A 29-hour countdown for the launch is set to start on 4 January, according to Indian Space Research Organisation sources.

The Launch Authorisation Board had cleared the GSLV D5 launch for 5 January, sources said, adding that the 29-hour countdown would commence on 4 January at around 11 am.

GSLV D5 would be launched at 4.18 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, about 100 km from Chennai.

The launch vehicle would be moved to the launch pad tomorrow at around 6 am, according to the sources.

The GSLV D5 mission was aborted last year due to a fuel leak in its second stage.

The aluminium alloy fuel tank called Afnor 7020 had shown a tendency to crack over a period of time, following which the rocket had been rejuvenated after addressing the problem.

The GSLV uses a combination of solid, earth-storable liquid and cryogenic propellants to inject its passenger spacecraft into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

According to sources, the lift-off had been further augmented by the four earth-storable liquid strap-on boosters attached to the first stage.

 In a related development, the ministry of defence (MoD) has been tasked to recruit crew for Indian Space Research Organisation's ''ambitious'' Man to Moon Mission, air marshal A K Behl, director general, medical services (Air) said today.

MoD and ISRO had signed a MoU for the project. He said the two organisations had collaborated a couple of years ago.

The director general for armed forces services (DGAFS), who would exercise oversight over the project, would also assess whether the crew would be able to maintain the spacecraft well and return safely.

Behl added that Man to Moon was an ambitious project started by the ISRO and since the Indian Air Force (IAF) had domain expertise in aviation and in other aspects related to space, it had collaborated with the space agency. He said, The Institute of Aviation Studies Bangalore was also involved in the project.