ISRO's GSLV D5 launch likely in early January

Chennai: ISRO on Tuesday announced that the launch of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV D5, which was called off at the 11th hour on 19 August due to a fuel leak in its second stage, is likely in the first week of January next year. [caption id=“attachment_1263717” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The GSLV-D5. Image: Isro[/caption] “After carrying out all preparatory works, the launch of GSLV D5 is likely by the first week of January next year. The exact date and time is yet to be fixed,” ISRO sources told PTI. The integration of the second stage of GSLV D5 has already been completed and integration of the cryogenic stage is planned on 9 December, they said. “After completing all other procedures, the vehicle is scheduled to be brought to the launch pad on 28 December. We need at least a week for the launch after the vehicle in brought to the pad,” they added. The launch of GSLV-D5 scheduled at 1650 hours on 19 August was called off at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, some 100 km from Chennai, after a leak was detected in the fuel system during the pre-launch pressurisation phase on the vehicle, just two hours before lift-off. The propellants were later drained from the cryogenic stage, liquid second stage and the four liquid strap-ons of GSLV-D5 and the vehicle was moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building in SDSC. PTI