ISRO, which successfully launched the GSLV-F05 on an indigenously built engine today, can bring to the market competitive launch pricing, cheaper payload access to GTO and save on launches for its INSAT series through Arianespace, if it gets its act together fast.

The present GSLV programme which began in 2001, has had a chequered history.

It has had eight flights, five with the cryogenic engine supplied by Russia and three with the indigenous version developed by the Liquid Propulsion Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.

The space scientists have faced several hiccups, a couple of failures and technology challenges. Some experts argue that India is at least a decade behind in the GSLV technology.

The Space agency in addition to catching up on technology has to brace up to the intense competition emerging from private companies like Space X with its Falcon rocket registering big gains. The traditional powers such as the US, Russia, Arianespace are already entrenched and newer entrants like China and a few private consortia promise to heat up the sector.

The GSLV programme ran into trouble early with technology denials and the US ban on Russia to transfer key technology to India.

However, the Russians ensured supply of seven cryo engine with crucial drawings, which has helped the ISRO overcome technical glitches in building the indigenous initiative with a good number of private companies helping to design the engine.

In the next few years it has to master the launch technology and the commercial arm — Antrix Corporation has to pitch in with efforts to attract business in the face of global competition.

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