The team behind the recent GSLV-D5 mission with a cryogenic engine met here the other day to unwind and reflect on the ‘glorious moments.’

The GSLV-D5 launch vehicle put communication satellite GSAT 14 perfectly into orbit on January 5.

“It is difficult to believe we are meeting here after 20-odd days after the mission,” said S. Ramakrishnan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.

“It is as if we have become immune to both successes and failures, Ramakrishnan said recollecting the not-so-smooth journey to the launch pad.

HORRIFIC MOMENTS

While explaining the uniqueness of what he called a remarkable launch, he also recalled the horrific moments when the team was literally playing with fire.

“For the first time in our launch history, we saw fire engulf the launch pad on August 19 last year,” he said.

The mission, then in an advanced stage of launch, had to be aborted. It sent ISRO team back to the drawing board.

“We found out what exactly happened. We had made very small errors but in space science, margin between success and failure is very, very thin,” Ramakrishnan said.

The failure gave the team a valuable lesson that nothing practically can be left to chance. The failure strengthened its resolve to go to any length for success.

“The text book launch on January 5 shows this,” Ramakrishnan said. The team was able to predict the mission performance and flight diagnostics to the T.

GOOD HANDLE

“We now have a very good handle on the specifics that will be carried to the GSLV Mk III mission next,” he added.

MYS Prasad, Director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, recalled that 800 litres of highly volatile propellants had to be drained out in a dangerously tricky operation on August 19.

Hundreds of ISRO staff worked without rest for 24 hours to salvage the launch vehicle and, more importantly, the cryogenic engine and wheel them back to the vehicle assembly.

MC Dathan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Mahendragiri, said success of the mission shows how important it is to extract the best out of team members.

K. Sivan, Mission Director, GSLV D5, said the mission revealed to the world a mature cryo engine and a most reliable launch vehicle.

Master Control Facility in Bangalore has reported that the GSAT 14 is the best tracked geostationary satellite ensconced firmly in its intended orbit, he added.

Published on January 30, 2014