India has had reasonable success in the global race for space. After the success of its moon vehicle, Chandrayaan-1, launched in October 2008, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) wanted to scale new heights with its first independently developed cryogenic engine. Sadly, it was not to be.
(This story appears in the 18 June, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
listen americans......we today succesfully launed a satelite using gslv d5 powerd by our own cryogenic engine......hear it properly....OUR OWN CRYOGENIC ENGINE...India can achieve anything....now u people go and scratch your head
on Jan 5, 2014All complex technology can only be mastered gradually. The author says,\"India has already spent 17 years on cryogenics.Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 15 years for a successful launch.\" I say spent a 100 years if necessary on creating an indigenous cryogenic engine. It is the research that is spent on creating such technology that is needed for creating a good culture of science and technology in the country. And it is such a culture of science and technology that is the difference between a developed nation and a developing nation.
on Oct 26, 2013Sir, hereafter India wont do the project regarding cryogenics?
on Jul 19, 2011ISRO is playing a key role in developement of our country.
on Dec 20, 2010While it is commendable that India has the ability and the desire to purse such technologies as the cryogenic engines, it is in the end, basically reinventing the wheel. The Russians, the Americans, the Europeans and now the Japanese have developed this technology basically by drawing on technologies of each other. India's aim to enter this club should be an attempt to build a better derivative than merely reinvent a technology merely for the sake of domestic industrial capabilities. Even NASA and the Americans were eager to buy Russian cryogenic engines after the fall of the Soviet union due to their relative simplicity and robustness. Unfortunately India, didn't capitalize on this crucial moment in history to gain new technologies and capabilities to the extent the Chinese, the North Koreans and even the americans did. Failures at demonstrating a technology that has been around for nearly 50 years now, while educational to the engineers doesn't exactly help promote the Indian space program's credibility to the outside observer. And in an age where co-operation is the cornerstone to progress, image is everything.
on Jun 18, 2010As a researcher, i well know that failure is a gold mine of knowledge. I consider ISRO lucky that the first mission failed. Very very lucky indeed. It would have been very dangerous if we succeeded in the first go.<br /> <br /> Hats off to ISRO for having the guts to take a shot at developing this technology. <br /> <br /> You are solving problems related to heat transfer, mechanical expansion, vibration and shock, all at the same time. <br /> <br /> Good.. bravo guys.<br /> <br /> Only thing I care about is Govt should compensate ISRO scientists well. They should be paid really well and an exception should be made to delink pay of scientists of critical organization such as ISRO, BARC , DRDO etc from pay of regular central govt employees.<br /> <br /> These guys need more appreciation to work happily towards reaching the goal.
on Jun 15, 2010BUT why do Indians allow themselves to be treated like S***T. CRY OH GENIC
on Jun 12, 2010Very few new technologies - especially as complex as cryogenics - have been successful at the first launch. Failures provide insight that leads to improvement and eventually to consistently reliable operation. All major space faring nations have faced such situations, including loss of life when the first manned missions were flown in the USA and the USSR. <br /> We should have the stomach to face failure without throwing up our hands - there will be many more as we launch more moon missions, manned orbital flights, etc. The point is whether ISRO as an organisation has the ability to master new technologies and progress to increasingly complex missions - clearly it does, as its track record shows. <br /> From the humble SLV3 in the 1980s it has now flown a mission to the moon, and has set itself bigger targets. It needs the nation's encouragement, informed criticism where due (as opposed to ignorant hand-wringing) and consistent funding.
on Jun 11, 2010None of the nations that possess this technology have 100% success rate. Even today, rockets launched by leaders of the pack, America and Russia, fail after launch and these nations have a much larger scientific industrial base. Hindustan have to be proud of its accomplishments considering limited industrial base, the restraints and technology denial regime it has operated under. This "limited success" of the engine should be a lesson learnt and keep on marching. Success always await those who are determined and unwavering to reach the destination.
on Jun 10, 2010Unlike other countries such as Russia, the US not only guards state of the art technology in every field but also is in the forefront to deny such technologies. <br /> <br /> It is so paranoid about losing its preeminent position in those fields to the extent it also exerts excessive pressure on other countries that have similar technologies not to assist India in any way.<br /> Under the circumstances, is it prudent to buy American defense products especially since it is known to put in sanctions at its whims and fancies. <br /> <br /> It is strange that it only does this to India which is a democracy whereas the US does not do anything about China which is noted for its supply of sensitive technology to Pakistan.<br /> <br /> Under the Obama regime TOT has become almost non-existent because of its insistence on making India adhere to US laws without realizing that it is dealing with a sovereign country.
on Jun 10, 2010