India's 200 crore space mission has run into trouble with the lift-off of India's heavy rocket geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle-D5 (GSLV-D5), carrying communication satellite GSAT-14, delayed due to a leak.
The countdown began on Sunday at 11.50 am at Sriharikota rocket port in Andhra Pradesh, for the launch scheduled at 4.50 pm today.
It was halted one hour and 14 minutes ahead of lift-off, after some 'leakage' was detected. Officials say they are not sure when the countdown can be resumed.
The mission was called off at a fairly advanced stage of the 29-hour countdown, and with only a little over an hour left for the lift-off that was scheduled for 4.50 p.m., at the second launch pad of the Sriharikota spaceport near here.
This was the eighth flight of the GSLV, the fourth developmental flight and only the second time in three years that the indigenously-developed cryogenic upper stage was flight-tested. The Rs. 205-crore expendable rocket’s mission was to inject the cuboid-shaped and 1982-kg weighing GSAT-14 in orbit to signal India’s entry into an ivy league of nations with frontier capabilities of launching 2,000-2,500 kg class of advanced communication satellites in outer space.
The GSAT-14, the 23rd geostationary communication satellite built by ISRO, would have joined a line-up of nine Indian satellites to help provide a host of satellite-based communication services, including tele-education and tele-medicine. The satellite’s mission was also to augment the in-orbit capacity of the extended C and Ku-band transponders in the INSAT-GSAT ecosystem to set the stage for new and exciting experiments driven by satellite-based communication.
The rocket port is located about 80 km from Chennai.
"The rocket cost is around Rs. 160 crore and the cost of the satellite is around Rs. 45 crore," an official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS, preferring anonymity.
The key significance of this Rs. 205 crore launch is that the rocket's cryogenic engine is indigenously developed by ISRO.
This was the first mission of GSLV in the last three years, after two such rockets failed in 2010. One of the GSLV rockets flew with an Indian cryogenic engine, and the other one with a Russian engine.
The GSLV is a three stage/engine rocket. The first stage is fired with solid fuel, the second with liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.
The successful flight of this rocket is crucial for India as it will be the first step towards building rockets that can carry heavier payloads of up to four tonnes.
An ISRO official, preferring anonymity, told IANS that several design changes had been incorporated in Monday's rocket after studying the past GSLV rockets and the issues faced in them.
Design changes were made in the lower shroud/cover that protects the cryogenic engine during the atmospheric flight, wire tunnel of the cryogenic stage to withstand larger forces during the flight, and the revised aerodynamic characterisation of the entire rocket.
"We have reverted to 3.4 metre heat shield to protect the satellite. The last GSLV rocket that failed had a four-metre heat shThe leak was reportedly observed in the second stage of the 49-metre tall GSLV-D5. The rocket adopts a three-stage fuel cycle — the core solid stage, liquid and a cryogenic upper stage. At about 4 p.m., ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, accompanied by a team of glum-looking scientists, met the media to formally declare that the GSLV-D5 mission had been called off.
“The countdown was progressing well. However, a few minutes ago, we observed a leak in the fuel systems of the second stage. Because of this, we are calling off the launch,” Dr. Radhakrishnan said.
The immediate task for ISRO teams in the fuel leak situation was to quickly drain out the liquid propellants that had been loaded into the second stage, the four L40 strap-ons and the cryogenic stage, the ISRO chief said.
“We need to make an assessment of the cause of the leak and the actions that need to be taken before further preparations for the next launch,” Dr. Radhakrishnan said. The GSLV-D5 is also being hauled back to the Vehicle Assembly building, he said.ield. One of the earlier GSLV rockets had problems in its aerodynamics," the official said.
Other changes included video imaging of lower shroud movement during various flight phases, fuel booster in cryogenic engine, and ignition sequence of the cryogenic engine, he said.
ISRO said indigenisation of many critical systems including liquid hydrogen propellant acquisition system (to prevent possibility of outside contamination) was achieved.
ISRO officials told IANS that though the rocket's rated carrying capacity is around 2.2 tonnes, it was decided to carry a sub-two tonne satellite with minimum number of transponders (receivers and transmitters of communication signals), to be on the safe side.
ISRO's earlier attempts to fly a GSLV rocket carrying slightly over two tonne satellites have ended in partial/total failures.
Meanwhile, it is going to be tense 17 minutes for the ISRO scientists on Monday after the 49.13 metre tall rocket weighing 414.75 tonnes blasts off at 4.50 pm, till the GSLV rocket safely delivers GSAT-14 to augment the Indian transponder capacity.
ISRO is planning to launch an upgraded version of GSLV Mark III rocket next year with a dummy payload. The design payload capacity of GSLV Mark III is four tonnes.
During the countdown to the rocket launch, fuelling of the three stage/engine GSLV rocket's four strap-on motors and the second stage with liquid fuel will be completed by August 19 morning, while the first-stage core engine is powered by solid fuel.
The process of fuelling the cryogenic engine will begin around 10 hours prior to the launch.
Opposition leader, VS Achuthandan to approach the high court to highlight the lapses occurred in the solar scam investigations. CPM state Secretary has also given approval to this. Achuthanandan and Politburo member Seetharam Yechury meet with Ram jetmalani for his advice regarding this issue He will be lodging a complaint against some political top leaders and the CJM court.No investigations had been carried out so far based on Sreedharan Nairs statement. Jiku mon and Salim Raj who is accused of involving in solar scam has not yet been arrested. Considering all the details gathered so far, CM, his personal staff members, top police officers all are included in the case, but no actions has been taken so far. Instead of bringing the culprits into light the investigation team is trying to protect the accused including CM. The opposition leader will be pointing out all these lapses in the court and will request the high court for legal intervention in the solar scam.
The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the state Director General of Prosecutions to file a statement by Tuesday as to who is conducting the investigation of cases relating to Solar Panel scam and other questions relating to the merits of the case.
The direction was issued by Justice S S Sateeshchandran during hearing of bail applications of TV actress Shalu Menon and Tenny Joppen, former private secretary of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, both accused in the solar scam, which is rocking the state for the past two months.
Investigation into the Solar scam is being conducted by Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by ADGP K Hemachandran, while the chargesheet in some of the cases has been filed by another officer.
As the provisions of CRPC does not enable such a procedure, the Judge directed the Director of Prosecution to file a statement by Tuesday.
When Joppen's bail application came up, the court orally expressed its displeasure at not getting definite answers regarding investigation of the case from Advocate General K P Dandapani.
The court said having gone through the case diary, there should be not be a 'miscarriage' of justice.
The bail applications of both the accused were adjourned to Tuesday.
Though the AG made a request to prohibit the media from publishing the proceedings of the case, the court declined to accept the plea.
The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport along with the Cochin International Airport joined six other elite airports in the country in issuing this passport to tourists when the country is celebrating its 66th Independence Day.
Citizens of Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia can get the T-VoA at these two airports.
Already the Ünion Ministry of External Affairs has asked the missions abroad to publicise the extension of T-VoA and to alert the holidaymakers in the 11 countries. “We are ready to grant the T-VoA from midnight,” an Immigration official said.
Infrastructure facilities, as mandated by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) functioning under the Ministry of Home, have been put in place.
A 250-sq.ft holding area has been set aside in the Immigration area and exclusive visa desks, special enclosure for photographing, foreign exchange counter, signage and display, and telephone connections have been put in place.
Intelligence Bureau (IB) will man the exclusive visa desks. Twenty persons, including 16 counter officers, have been posted.
Introduced as part of a plan of the Ministry of Tourism to double within four years the number of foreign tourists visiting the country, the T-VoA will help stakeholders get tourists round the year.
A tourist can get T-VoA with a maximum validity of 30 days. The objectives of the visit should only be recreation, sightseeing, and meeting friends or relatives and “no other purpose or activity will be allowed.”
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that no understanding had been reached with the Left Democratic Front on ending its Secretariat siege
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has on Thursday said that no mediators had intervened in calling off the Secretariat siege led by the LDF. Those who are citing the name of industrialist M A Yousaf Ali might be his PROs, he said.
K Surendran is assuming the role of Yousaf Ali's PRO and is actually praising him by making such comments, Pinarayi insisted and added that he has no reply to those who have rented out their tongue to others.
Meanwhile the CPM central leadership has announced that the LDF agitation was not withdrawn through a mutual understanding. A mutual agreement between the UDF and the LDF is never possible in Kerala, said CPM Politburo member, S. Ramachandran Pillai, in Delhi. The agitation will be successful only if it realizes its aim of making Chief Minister Oommen Chandy resign.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Kodiyeri Balakriishan, said that people are wishing for the chief minister's resignation and the will continue till that end it met. CPI state secretary, Panyan Raveendran, in his statement, has made it clear that his party won't agree to a probe that would exclude the CM's office from it.
In a major offensive against the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Kerala, thousands of the Left Democratic Front workers laid siege to the Secretariat here on Monday. The protest marked the beginning of the Opposition’s indefinite blockade to demand Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s resignation in the solar scam.
Three out of the four gates came under blockade from early hours, with hundreds of activists occupying the roads leading to them. Mr. Chandy and his Cabinet colleagues had to reach the Secretariat early morning to attend a special meeting of the Cabinet. They entered and exited the Secretariat through the Cantonment Gate, which the police had secured on Sunday. Though Central police personnel had been requisitioned, they were not involved in any operation.
Addressing the agitators, the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, said Mr. Chandy should quit and face an inquiry by a judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court. Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said Mr. Chandy should remember that the former Railway Minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal, resigned when it became clear that his relative and office were involved in railway appointments.
Communist Party of India general secretary K. Sudhakar Reddy and RSP general secretary T.J. Chandrachoodan also demanded Mr. Chandy’s resignation.
Though the bulk of the LDF workers, drawn from all over the State, observed restraint, minor skirmishes occurred at two or three points. Quick intervention by LDF leaders and restraint exercised by the police ensured that there was no flare-up. At one point, CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had to reach a sensitive spot near the RBI office to urge the activists to remain calm.
The government claimed that 67 per cent of the Secretariat employees attended office. However, the functioning of the Secretariat remained hit, forcing the government to declare holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Chief Minister made the announcement after a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and coalition leaders. The meeting also reportedly decided to hold informal talks with LDF leaders to end the stand-off.
Active participation of the party officials are giving more encouragement to the cadres who are involved in the secretariat strike. Ignoring the heavy rainfall in morning party cadres and officials have stood still in front of the secretariat.
Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the protestors to keep discipline and not to provocate the police. He has also said that the strike is the emotion of the common man and it will be part of the history. Party secretary has also stated that barricades are not at all a hindrance to peoples emotions.
Police have registered a case against the LDF strike by making VS Achuthanandan as the prime accused. Case has also been registered against thousands of other people who have participated in the strike.
Chief minister has told that there will be no provocation measures from government side. Chief minister has asked other ministers to not to stay in secretariat offices as that will provocate the protestors.
Ministers vehicles has been stopped by the protestors near bakery juction. In baker junction protestors from districts like kozhikode, kasargod and wayanad were assembled and they didn’t allowed the official vehicles of Aryadan Mohammed and VS Sivakumar to pass by but the vehicle of Chief Minister oommen chandy has surpassed the protestors and reached governors residence in vellayambalam. Chief ministers office has told that it is just a routine visit.
There was minor disturbances in the trivadrum city with regard to ldf strike as stones has be thrown against a police vehicle in vellayambalam, trivandrum and the driver got injured. The vehicle which was bringing secretariat employees has been attacked. Employees has entered the secretariat through the cantonment gate.
Chief minister has told that there will be no delay of judicial inquiry in the solar scam. Shri oommen chandy has also said that the police inquiry into the solar scam is in its final state and after that judicial inquiry can be conducted.
During the Inauguration meeting Prakash Karat has blamed chief minister oommen chandy for the solar scam as he was aware of what was happening. He also stated that chief minister should resign if he has got some responsibility towards the common man of kerala while officially inaugurating the strike. He also said that the railway minister Pavan Kumar Bansal has resigned just because his relative was involved in the railway scam.
The blockade and siege organized in front of secretariat by the LDF has started in trivandrum with party members from various districts of kerala thronging trivandrum.
LDF WITHDRAWN SECRETARIAT UPARODHAM
Pinarayi vijayan has told that the indefinite strike organized by LDF will be part of the history and declared that the strike has been concluded as government has ordered for Judicial Inquiry.
LDF protestors are in a state of joy and it is expected that the strike will end in a short while from now. All the party members from different parts are joining in front of secretariat. LDF camp considers declaring a judicial inquiry is the first step towards the resignation of the chief minister.
It is expected that the indefdefinite strike orderd by LDF will conclude on the second day. Pinarayi Vijayan and other eminent leaders of the LDF are reaching the centre stage of the strike infront of secretariat. An urgent LDF meeting will be convened considering the present situation.
Oommen chandy has asked the LDF to withdraw the blockade strike as the chief minister has declared a judicial enquiry. Terms and reference for the judicial inquiry can be discussed with LDF and suggestions from opposition will also be considered. The inquiry which is underway by the special investigation team will be concluded in a couple of days and no government money is wasted or misused with regard to solar scam. Chief minister has also stated that all the culprits in the solar case will be brought before the law.
In the press conference Chief Minister Oommen chandy has said that a judicial enquiry in the solar scam and it will be conducted by a sitting judge and official declaration will be given in the next cabinet meeting.
Government is willing to and taking steps to finish off the siege by agreeing some demands put forward by the LDF. This was a decision taken in the all party meeting of UDF in Trivandrum. The decision was taken to go forward by declaring a judicial inquiry in the solar scam. By agreeing to the demand for judicial inquiry 1 need put forward by the LDF will be fruitful.
Today is the second day of secretariat siege organised by LDF. Two days holiday has been declared for secretariat but the siege will continue. The preparations for the independece day parade is underway in central stadium in Trivandrum. A police vehicle has been stoned by protestors today morning near by bakery junction. CPM has told that the event has become a success.
Gearing up to tackle the indefinite siege of the government secretariat by the opposition LDF over solar scam, the Congress-led UDF Government in Kerala has requisitioned paramilitary forces to face the massive campaign starting on August 12.
In what could be the biggest protest ever witnessed here, the LDF, spearheaded by CPI(M), plans to bring around one lakh workers as part of its ongoing campaign demanding resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in connection with the scam.
Taking a serious note of the campaign, especially its timing in the run up to Independence Day celebrations, the government has urged the Union Home Ministry to send a few companies of CRPF besides deploying the state forces in full strength, official sources said.
The district collector has already declared holiday for educational institutions here in view of traffic disruption and other inconvenience to be caused by such a large convergence of protesters from all over the state.
Unfazed by government's move to sternly handle the protest that might paralyse normal functioning of the seat of power, LDF leaders said the front would go ahead with the campaign without giving in to government's intimidatory tactics.
According to CPI(M) leader and LDF convener Vaikom Viswan, around one lakh LDF volunteers would lay a siege to the secretariat blocking entry and exit through its four gates.
As the lead partner of the LDF, CPI(M) alone would be mobilising about 75,000 volunteers through its nearly 25,000 branch committees in the state.
"This would be the biggest convergence of protesters ever seen by the state capital. We are not buckling under the threat from the government," CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said at a public meeting last evening.
National leaders of the Left and allied parties, including CPI(M)'s Prakash Karat and CPI's Sudhakar Reddy would be addressing the protesters.
Solar scam, rocking the state for some two months, has brought Chandy under a cloud, especially after the arrest of one of his close personal aides for his alleged links with the scamsters.
The scam pertains to financial cheating of several people by the accused Biju Radkahrishnan and Saritha Nair, both under arrest, by offering clients solar energy solutions. The accused allegedly used their clout in the CM's office for duping their clients of huge sums.
Ever since it surfaced, LDF has been demanding Chandy's resignation and a judicial probe into the scam.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
