Saturday was a proud day for ISRO. On February 18, a new age meteorological satellite, named the INSAT-3DS was launched. With the launch of the INSAT-3DS, it is guaranteed that the capabilities of the two meteorological satellites, INSAT-3DR and INSAT-3D will be intensified. Many expectations lie on the launch, as it may boost the climate and weather prediction services, disaster management services, and more.
However, interestingly, the rocket, and not the satellite, seems to be the main protagonist here. The GSLV-F14 was the rocket on which the INSAT-3DS satellite rode. The GSLV has proven to be one of the three chief rockets used to carry the satellites by ISRO.
The other two rockets are the LVM3 and the PSLV.
However, what has surprised many is the fact that the GSLV has been called with a strange name, which is, the "naughty boy". The reason is attributed to the fact that the GSLV has rarely had a smooth track record. However, on Sunday, the flight made by the rocket was actually quite smooth.
Reason behind the term "naughty boy"
It is not the first time that the GSLV had flown. Before the flight on Saturday, the GSLV has flown for a total of 15 times. Four of these flights however could not be successful. The PSLV is the rocket that has been used by ISRO in majority of its missions. However, the PSLV has proved to be a good one, as in a total of all of its 60 launches, the PSLV has been unsuccessful only twice. Moreover, the LVM3 rocket has flown only seven times before, but it has never missed a shot.
However, the story is not the same with GSLV. It was in August 2021, when the GSLV failed recently. The flight on Saturday was successful.
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What is the issue with GSLV?
There are no doubts on the capabilities of GSLV. It stands as a very powerful rocket, even stronger than the PSLV. Additionally, it holds the ability to hold more than 2,200 kg to the geostationary orbits. It can carry about 6,000 kg successfully to the low earth orbits.
If the rocket is so phenomenal in its abilities, what could be the reason for its patchy track record? Well, it is the cryogenic engine that has been the issue. It is this engine that powers the final stage of a flight.
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