# Indian declares GSLV-D5 cryogenic rocket launch a success **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2014, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005 "2014-01-06T07:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/1 "2014-01-06T07:27:13Z")
[video of launch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lORu8j1wD2c) > [@](#): > > An India-made cryogenic engine powers the GSLV-D5, which stands almost 50 meters tall (as high as a 17-storey building) and weighs a whopping 415 tons (as much 80 full grown elephants). Cryogenic technology was denied to India to make sure local american companies got enough time to develop and start offering satellite launch services to companies. It said that they and other countries like france and russia have captured the heavy satellite launch market, so it will be interesting to see where gslv goes from here. Quite significant development for India I guess. Paves way for manned space flights as well This after the Mars satellite which was launched couple of months back has successfully left for mars after orbiting the earth to gain speed - [https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q91/1465214\_1395351460702794\_1941928582\_n.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q91/1465214_1395351460702794_1941928582_n.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/2 "2014-01-06T14:30:29Z")
How and what cryogenic technology was denied to India? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/3 "2014-01-06T15:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > …weighs a whopping 415 tons (as much 80 full grown elephants). Although American media also occasionally compares big things to elephants, I find it quite funny to see an Indian news story do so…as if the entire Indian scientific establishment measures things in terms of elephants. “Burn main engine for .35 elephant farts to begin change of orbit!” ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/4 "2014-01-06T15:56:17Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > How and what cryogenic technology was denied to India? I don’t know anything about “denied,” but Wikipedia explains [cryogenic rocket engines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryogenic_rocket_engine). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/5 "2014-01-06T15:58:44Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > “Burn main engine for .35 elephant farts to begin change of orbit!” Ah, 350 milliganeshes. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/6 "2014-01-06T16:08:47Z")
[US Sanctions On India: India overcame US sanctions to develop cryogenic engine | India News - Times of India](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-overcame-US-sanctions-to-develop-cryogenic-engine/articleshow/28449360.cms)? > [@](#): > > The successful launch of GSLV-D5 on Sunday, powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine, is a major milestone for the country considering the challenges Isro has had to face in developing it over the past three decades. > > The quest to acquire cryogenic technology faced not just technological challenges but also geopolitical sanctions. In fact, the US had at one point tried to scuttle India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) project. > > A decade before that, in December 1982, India had formed a cryogenic study team to focus on the development of an engine which could generate a thrust of 10 tonnes. But the project did not take off because Isro realized indigenous development of such engines would pose major technological challenges. It then decided to import these engines from Russia to expedite its GSLV programme. > > In 1991, Isro signed a $120-million contract with Glavkosmos of Russia for seven cryogenic rocket engines and also a complete transfer of technology. Isro officials said India had to approach Russia because no other country was willing share this technology fearing it would be used for military purposes. > > As the India-Russian agreement was being put in place, the US, in July 1993, arm-twisted Russia into stalling the engine supply saying it flouted the Missile Technology Control Regime ( MTCR). The US sanctions on Isro and Glavkosmos were a huge setback to the GSLV programme. > > However, these sanctions caused by geopolitical factors gave a boost to the indigenous cryogenic programme as Isro was forced to develop its technology. The space agency then fast-tracked research at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. A few years ago, Russia brushed aside American apprehensions and supplied seven cryogenic engines to India. > > Over the years, some of the tests on the indigenous engine went off flawlessly. Isro officials were fairly confident about the success of the maiden launch of GSLV with its own cryogenic engine. > > But, their dreams were shattered on April 15, 2010, when the GSLV plunged into the Bay of Bengal within minutes after take off from Sriharikota. A study later revealed that the turbo pump supplying fuel to the cryogenic engine had stopped working. > > In the past two-and-a-half years, critical modifications were carried out both to the engine as well as the rocket. > [@Sailboat](#): > > Although American media also occasionally compares big things to elephants, I find it quite funny to see an Indian news story do so…as if the entire Indian scientific establishment measures things in terms of elephants. “Burn main engine for .35 elephant farts to begin change of orbit!” lolzz:D ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/7 "2014-01-06T16:24:17Z")
They certainly went their own way: hypergolic boosters and second stage, solid first stage, cryo third. And they want to man-rate this beast? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/8 "2014-01-06T16:26:10Z")
So the denial is from 1982-1992? A time when the US was aligned with Pakistan and while India had a strong relationship with the USSR and was nuclear armed. Yeah, I can’t possibly imagine why the US would be hesitant to transfer cryogenic engine technology to India. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/9 "2014-01-06T16:32:26Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > “Burn main engine for .35 elephant farts to begin change of orbit!” “…More Crunch-berries, [Smedley](http://www.davidshepherd.org/uploads/dswf_20021.jpg), more Crunch-berries!” ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/10 "2014-01-08T16:39:39Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Although American media also occasionally compares big things to elephants, I find it quite funny to see an Indian news story do so…as if the entire Indian scientific establishment measures things in terms of elephants. “Burn main engine for .35 elephant farts to begin change of orbit!” Heh. Since when have media reports accurately reflected the scientific establishment? The elephant quote makes sense if you want the layreader to get a sense of scale though. Elephants are native fauna, and I’ve seen a few elephants in Indian cities. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-declares-gslv-d5-cryogenic-rocket-launch-a-success/678005/11 "2014-01-09T07:51:03Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > [video of launch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lORu8j1wD2c) > > Cryogenic technology was denied to India to make sure local american companies got enough time to develop and start offering satellite launch services to companies. It said that they and other countries like france and russia have captured the heavy satellite launch market, so it will be interesting to see where gslv goes from here. Quite significant development for India I guess. Paves way for manned space flights as well > > This after the Mars satellite which was launched couple of months back has successfully left for mars after orbiting the earth to gain speed - > [https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q91/1465214\_1395351460702794\_1941928582\_n.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q91/1465214_1395351460702794_1941928582_n.jpg) considering it’s 50 year old technology and everything NASA used was from American companies your premise doesn’t make sense. We don’t sell a lot of technology for security reasons. Note we are currently using Russian RD-180 engines for Atlas 5 rockets. They may cut us off for the same reason.