India satellite rocket explodes after takeoff

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http://www.timesofearth.com/Technolog... NEW DELHI, INDIA -- A rocket carrying an Indian communications satellite exploded just after lift-off on Saturday, in the second launch failure for India's space programme this year. • • The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) exploded in the first stage of flight, leaving a trail of smoke and fire behind it. • • It had just lifted off from the Sriharikota space centre on Saturday in Andhra Pradesh state, and was carrying a GSAT-5P communications satellite. • • K Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO), said the rocket developed an error 47 seconds after initiating lift-off and lost command, leading to a higher angle in the flight. • • That caused a higher stress, breaking up the vehicle, he said. • • He also said that the cause of the crash needed to be looked into in detail. • • A similar rocket on a developmental flight plunged into the Bay of Bengal in April. The ISRO said that accident was caused by a rotor seizing and a rupture in the turbine casing, probably due to excessive pressure and thermal stresses. • • Yashpal, a retired Indian scientist and independent commentator, said he was very disappointed by Saturday's failure, but that other countries have also experienced such problems. • • India is planning its first manned space flight in 2016. • • An Indian satellite launched in 2008 to orbit the moon was abandoned last year after communication links snapped and scientists lost control of the spacecraft. • • Since 1994, India's space programme has launched a number of locally made satellites. It has also been able to launch nine successful space flights consecutively. • • India is the fifth country after the United States, Russia, China and France to enter the commercial satellite launch market. • • The country has sought to convert its rise as an economic power - built on a thriving high-tech sector - into global clout in other areas. • • It is also aiming to expand its satellite launch business to about $120 million a year, which is estimated to be a quarter of China's present launch business.

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