CHENNAI: Another strap-on engine of the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F02) has been recovered from the Bay of Bengal, off Sriharikota coast, and winched up to one of the vessels of the Department of Ocean Development (DoOD).

On July 22, DoOD personnel recovered a strap-on engine.

Both performed well when the GSLV-F02 lifted off on July 10 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The strap-on engine that malfunctioned, resulting in the mission failure, is yet to be pulled up from the ocean, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials.

They said the recovery operations had been suspended and would resume after some days. They are confident that the failed engine would be retrieved and the recovery would provide valuable clues on the cause of the flight's failure.

The 49-metre tall GSLV is a three-stage vehicle that weighs 414 tonnes. The first stage comprises a core motor, powered by 138 tonnes of solid propellants. Four strap-on motors are strung around the first stage, and each of the strap-on engines is fuelled by 42 tonnes of liquid propellants.

Second stage

The second stage uses 39 tonnes of liquid propellants. The third stage is cryogenic that is propelled by 12.6 tonnes of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The GSLV-F02 flight was to have placed in orbit INSAT-4C satellite. Asked about the chances of retrieving the satellite, the ISRO officials said the satellite, being a delicate contraption, could have disintegrated. Besides, the focus of the search was to retrieve the engine that malfunctioned.

This is the first time ISRO has mounted a massive search operation, with the help of the DoOD personnel, to recover parts of a launch vehicle that failed.

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