ISRO readies GSLV-D5 for early January launch
03 Dec 2013
ISRO has readied its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-D5, which had to be called off at the 11th hour on 19 August to rectify a fuel leak in its second stage.
ISRO said after all necessary preparations the launch vehicle could now be fired in the first week of January 2014.
"After carrying out all preparatory works, the launch of GSLV-D5 is likely by the first week of January next year. The exact date and time is yet to be fixed," reports quoting ISRO sources said.
ISRO said it has completed the integration of the second stage of GSLV-D5 and the integration of the cryogenic stage is planned for 9 December.
After completing all other procedures, the vehicle will be brought to the launch pad on 28 December. It will take another week before the launch can take place, ISRO said.
GSLV-D5 launch, which was earlier scheduled for 19 August, had to be called off after a leak was detected in the fuel system of the liquid second stage in pre-launch pressurisation phase, just two hours before lift-off.
The vehicle was towed back to the vehicle assembly building at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Bengaluru after the propellants were drained from the cryogenic stage, liquid second stage and the four liquid strap-ons of GSLV-D5.
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