E-Paper
Rs 1 lakh device cost ISRO crores
The FAC report says that a strap-on boosters that failed seconds after blast off led to the crash of GSLV on July 10.
The defective fuel control device that led to the crash of GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) with Insat-4C communications satellite onboard on July 10 was acquired from a private firm for Rs 1 lakh.
The failed mission cost the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Rs 256 crores.
The setback notwithstanding, ISRO will not blacklist the industry.
The name of the industry was kept under wraps by G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, even as he owned full responsibility for the crash of GSLV, on Wednesday.
The Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) has confirmed that the fuel control device was the rogue component which pushed the rocket off course soon after liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota Range – as reported first by the Hindustan Times on Wednesday.
At a news conference at the ISRO's headquarters, Nair released the report of the FAC headed by K Narayana, former Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota Range.
The report said one of the strap-on boosters failed a couple of seconds after the 414 ton rocket blasted off. "Simulations and analysis of flight data and verification through calibration tests have led to the conclusion that the propellant regulator in the failed engine had much higher discharge coefficient in its closed condition.
The reason for this could be an inadvertent error in manufacturing which escaped the subsequent inspection and acceptance test procedures. This regulator has functioned satisfactorily in all the previous 50 engines manufactured and tested so far," says the report handed over by the panel of experts.
Choosing to look ahead, Nair said stringent quality control would be the buzzword for all space missions in future. "We believe in the role of Indian industry. About 60 per cent of components and sub-systems are sourced from the industry and we have built the expertise (in indigenous manufacturing capability) over tens of years," was Nair's defence.
