India who testet a new cryogenic rocket-type similar gto ESA; NASA and RKA's rockets  last month, has announced that they will launch a communication satellitte  with it as soon as 15 april

Indian ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) performed a test of a new rocket called GSLV-MkIII.

ISRO conducted the static test of its liquid core stage (L110) of GSLV Mk III launch vehicle, for 150 seconds at its Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) test facility at Mahendragiri at 16:00 hrs yesterday (March 5, 2010).

While the test was originally targeted for 200 seconds it was stopped at 150 seconds since a deviation in one of the parameters was observed. About 500 important parameters were monitored during the static test. The next static test for 200 seconds will be conducted after analysis of this data.

GSLV Mk III launch vehicle is being developed for launching 4 tonne class of satellites in Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Measuring 17 meters in length and 4 meters in diameter, L110 is an earth storable liquid propellant stage with propellant loading of 110 tonnes. L110 stage uses two high-pressure Vikas engines in a clustered configuration and draws its heritage from the second stage of PSLV and GSLV and strapons of GSLV.

While in PSLV and GSLV, the liquid stage with single engine configuration burns for 150 seconds, the GSLV-MkIII requires burning for 200 seconds in a twin engine configuration.

Only 5 other countries uses the advanced cryogenic technique, making the launch a remarkable milestone for India and ISRO.

ISRO's chairman K. Radhakrishnan announced yesterday, that they will  launch a communication satellitte on this new engine april 15. The launch will take place from ISRO's space centre Sriharikota at Andhra Prades

Kilde: ISRO og AFP