Indian-made cryogenic rocket blasts off
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India yesterday successfully launched its first rocket using domestically produced booster technology after several previous missions had failed, taking another step forward in its ambitious space program.
The Indian-made cryogenically-powered rocket blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota as scheduled, as India tries to join an elite club of countries which have mastered the complex technology.
The 415-ton rocket deployed a 2-ton advanced communications satellite some 17 minutes after blast-off, said Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan.
India has for years been trying to develop its own cryogenic rocket engines that are designed to put heavier satellites into high orbits, about 36,000 kilometers from Earth.
The powerful booster technology, using super-cooled liquid fuel, is a much needed tool to help India capture a larger share of the lucrative global market for launching commercial satellites.
India’s project has had to overcome many hurdles and mishaps, including an aborted launch in August last year several hours before lift-off after fuel was found to be leaking from one of the rocket’s engines.
The first India-built rocket crashed into the Bay of Bengal just minutes after take-off in April 2010 after the cryogenic engines failed to ignite.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the team on yesterday’s mission, which cost 3.65 billion rupees (US$58 million) — 2.2 billion rupees for the rocket and 1.45 billion rupees for the satellite.
“It is yet another important step that the country has taken in the area of science and technology,” Singh said in a tweet.
In November India successfully lifted into orbit a spacecraft bound for Mars as it tries to become the first Asian nation to reach the Red Planet.
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