Indian Satellite Lost in Launch Explosion

An anonymous reader writes "BBC News is reporting that the recent communications satellite launch in India has met with disaster. The satellite, designed to enhance India's telephone and communications network, was lost when the rocket carrying it veered off course and exploded. This is the second disappointment in recent launch attempts, coming just one day after the failed long-range ballistic missile test launch."

Re:Indian Astronauts

[Anonymous Coward]

The moon mission (chandrayan) is going to be an unmanned one. And yes, it appears that NASA and ESA are indeed in talks to 'outsource' some of their moon probes to that mission.

Re:disappointment?

[ashyanbhog]

He's referring to India's failed AGNI III missile test launch

GSLV exploded...

[dracken]

The GSLV [wikipedia.org] had 2 successful launches before, launching the GSAT experimental satellite and the EDUSAT [wikipedia.org] educational satellite. India's moon mission is unmanned and will use the PSLV [wikipedia.org] rocket which has had six successful launches so far.

Failure but impressive record

[Anonymous Coward]

Even though this launch failed, I would think the Indian Space Research OPrganizaiton is doing a tremendous job. Given their meagre budget ($700 million ISRO Wiki [wikipedia.org]) , their past record is definitely impressive [wikipedia.org] . Most of their launches so far have been in polar orbits (remote sensing and spy satellites). They used ESA's Ariane rockets till yesterday for their geostationary communication satellite requirements.

Mumbai

[bobbo69]

Offtopic I know, but just wanted to say my thoughts are with India after the bombings today. Fucking terrorists :(

Follow up

[allden]

Link to the interview with G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation. http://indianexpress.com/story/8316.html [indianexpress.com]

Re:well

[alamandrax]

Vishnu is a "he". He only takes the female form when required. Batteries not included.

it dint just explode..

[vasanth]

the satellite dint just explode but was made to explode when its path deviate from the intended one... thats a big difference.. http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=398107 [outlookindia.com] "Following this, the vehicle deviated to about 10 degrees, leading to the mission control giving the 'destruct command'."

NASA's job is outsourcing

[dangermouse]

NASA is made for outsourcing. That's partly the point of NASA. It's as much about driving the strategic American aerospace industry as it is about conducting research and space flight missions for their own sake.

From the National Aeronautics and Space Act [nasa.gov], which established NASA:

(d) The aeronautical and space activities of the United States shall be conducted so as to contribute materially to one or more of the following objectives:

...

(5) The preservation of the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology and in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities within and outside the atmosphere;

...

(9) The preservation of the United States preeminent position in aeronautics and space through research and technology development related to associated manufacturing processes.

Re:it dint just explode..

[ISROBoy]

I was born and bought up in the place where the launch took place , My sister is part of the team to give the "Remote" destruct command .1 of the strap on boosters out of the 4 failed during the 1st 60secs of the flight which lead to unstable overall structure . These things happen in this field and eventually ISRO will get right remember ISRO is using idegenious cryogenic engines for the first time . EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH INDIAN SPACE PROGRAM