ISRO targeting a 5 January launch for GSLV-D5

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is targeting a 5 January launch of the GSAT-14 satellite aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5).

“The integration of the GSLV-D5 is almost complete, and we plan to assemble the heat shield with the spacecraft, GSAT-14, by next week,” said an ISRO spokesperson.

The launch of the GSLV D5, which has an indigenous cryogenic engine, was aborted two hours before its launch on 19 August because of a fuel leak in its second stage. Since then, ISRO has replaced the second stage with a new one and refurbished the liquid strap-ons. Although the cryogenic stage is the same, it has undergone all necessary tests.

ISRO had completed the integration of the second stage and that of the cryogenic stage of the launch vehicle. The space agency is targeting to lauch the communication satellite GSAT-14 at 1618 hours from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/3866-isro-targeting-a-5-january-launch-for-gslv-d5.htmlSource: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/3866-isro-targeting-a-5-january-launch-for-gslv-d5.html