Click to play videoNew Delhi/Bangalore: Wednesday morning could see a new milestone for India's space programme, as the Indian Space Research Organisation gears up to launch the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
But amid the preparation for the launch, there is also a tragic reminder of the crash of the geo-stationary launch vehicle or GSLV, that disintegrated and plunged into the sea 63 seconds after its launch in July 2006.
Till that day ISRO had enjoyed a 100 per cent launch statistic.
“Both are fairly reliable vehicles with international standards. GSLV, what we had was an unexpected failure. So we hope we'll be able to recover from that and be able to provide reliable launches both in PSLV and GSLV,” says ISRO Chairman, Madhavan Nair.
The tried-and-tested PSLV will be carrying four satellites into space - two from Indonesia and Argentina and two Indian satellites namely the remote sensing Cartosat-2 and the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment or SRE-1.
“Launching a satellite we've done in the past, recovering one, we'll do for the first time,” said Nair.
The SRE-1 will be brought back to earth after orbiting in space for about three weeks. While it's in space it will conduct zero gravity experiments, but the capsule is being seen as the first step towards a manned mission.
“Certain inputs like re-entry, thermal protection systems and software we develop will be useful for a manned mission also. But manned mission is a long way to go,” said Nair.
This mission will certainly also go long way in helping ISRO regain its self-confidence.
But the true test for ISRO and the Indian space programme will be the next GSLV launch.
(With inputs from Deepa Balakrishnan)
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