Launch delayed by one minute deliberately

SRIHARIKOTA: The launch of the PSLV-C18 was delayed by one minute and took off only at 11.01 am. When asked about the deliberate delay, following the 50- hour countdown, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan attributed it to “risk posed by space debris”.The monitoring agencies had made a recommendation to ISRO that the vehicle runs a marginal risk of collision with space debris if launched at the prescribed time and a minor delay would make a difference.“There is a lot of space debris in the lower orbit. We have to study whether there is a probability of debris hitting the satellite or the launch vehicle which is ascending,” he said. “This recommendation was made three days ago after constant monitoring and we acted accordingly.” Chandrayaan-II to Launch With Indigenous Cryogenic Engine by 2013-end Sriharikota: Deferring the launch of the GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic engine, the next space flight could be possible in the second quarter of 2012, said ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan.Explaining that log-duration tests were being carried out now, he added ground-testing the indigenous Indian cryogenic engine should be complete by mid-next year.“We have worked out the problems that occurred in the fuel booster pump last time that led to the mission abort and are working on some improvements in this model,” said S Ramakrishnan from the Director-Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. After two sub-orbital tests are conducted, the heavy-duty space carrier will take the Chandrayaan -II by 2013 end or in 2014. He also confirmed that Chandrayaan will have an advanced rover aboard.