Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has inquired into the cases of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launch failure;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether this is GSLV`s third unsuccessful mission, an earlier attempt, powered by a Russian cryogenic engine, failed in July 2006 while a more recent attempt in April 2010 with India`s first indigenous cryogenic engine deviated after take off;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the ISRO has decided to review Chandrayaan-II to be launched with GSLV in 2013 keeping in view the failure of recent launch of GSLV and if so, the reasons therefor; and

(f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRIES OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):

(a)&(b) Yes Sir. The Government has appointed Failure Analysis Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, with eleven experts drawn from ISRO and outside ISRO. The report of this Committee is awaited.

(c) Yes, Sir.

(d) The first unsuccessful mission of GSLV was the launch of GSLV- F02 with Russian Cryogenic upper stage, on 10th July, 2006. The primary cause of mission failure has been the loss of thrust in one of the liquid strap-on motor of the first stage. The anomalous behaviour was attributed to the malfunctioning of propellant regulator of the gas generator system in this strap-on motor.

The second unsuccessful launch of GSLV was the flight of GSLV-D3 with Indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage on April 15, 2010. The mission failed as the Indigenous Cryogenic engine (3rd stage) after its ignition couldn’t sustain the combustion beyond 1 second.

(e)&(f) Government has appointed a seven member “Programme Review and Strategy Committee” under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan, to look into the future of the GSLV Programme and the strategies for meeting the demands of communication transponders in the immediate future. A decision in respect of the Chandrayaan-II Mission will be taken keeping in view the recommendations of this Committee. Their report is awaited.

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