India's Test Firing of Ambitious Rocket Engine Aborted

Test Firing of Ambitious Indian Rocket Engine Aborted
New Delhi (AFP) February 17, 2000 - India's first test firing of its locally built and most ambitious rocket engine has failed, a government statement said Thursday.

The 7.5-tonne engine, using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, was ignited at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri in southern Tamil Nadu state on Wednesday, the statement said.

"However, the test had to be aborted at 15 seconds instead of the planned duration of 30 seconds," it said.

Indian Space Research Organisation's scientists plan to to analyse the data generated during the aborted test to pinpoint the anamoly and take corrective action, the statement said.

India, which has been working on the project for the last seven years, developed its own cryogenic engine from the scratch, following Russia's denial of the technology under pressure from the United States.

The cryogenic engine was originally scheduled for testing at the end of December 1999.

"Since the engine was moved to the test stand on December 23, 1999, elaborate trials with cryogenic propellants were carried out as part of final preparation and checks prior to the conduct of test," the statement said.

"Wednesday's test also marks the beginning of a series of ground qualification trials of the engine that will be carried out during the next several months," it said.

The cryogenic engine was meant to launch India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)

SPACE-SHIP.COM
India Moots Asia Pacific Space Alliance
New Delhi (AFP) November 15, 1999 - India on Monday urged countries in the Asia-Pacific region to pool their scientific resources in the joint development and use of space technology. Inaugurating a regional six-day ministerial conference in the southern city of Bangalore on space applications for sustainable development, Indian Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran emphasised the need to share knowledge.

Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly

paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.