INSAT-3DS’ orbital success marks redemption for GSLV ‘Naughty Boy’, breaks streak of failures

The Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle F14 (GSLV-F14) effectively positioned the Indian Space Research Organisation’s meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DS, into its designated orbit on February 17. Considering the involvement of the GSLV rocket in the mission, it was a crucial moment for the rocket as it is often called ‘naughty boy’ given its record.

Why is the GSLV rocket called ‘naughty boy’?

Transporting the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite into space was the GSLV rocket’s 16th mission. The GSLV earned the moniker “naughty boy” due to encountering at least four unsuccessful launches out of its previous 15 missions, The Indian Express reported. In contrast, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), ISRO’s reliable workhorse, has experienced only three failures out of its 60 missions thus far, while its successor, the LVM-3, has had none out of seven launches end in failure.

In August 2021, the GSLV-F10 rocket was designated the task of carrying an earth observation satellite EOS-03 into space. About five minutes after the launch, the rocket deviated from its scheduled trajectory. The first and second stages of the GSLV functioned normally and detached. However, the upper stage, which is propelled by a cryogenic engine using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen at extremely low temperatures, failed to ignite. Consequently, the rocket lost its momentum to continue, and it is probable that both the rocket and the satellite ended up falling into the Andaman Sea.

Owing to a similar issue, the GSLV-D3 failed in April 2020. This marked the inaugural flight of the GSLV featuring an indigenous cryogenic engine, closely modeled on the Russian design, much akin to the one utilised in August 2021. However, the cryogenic stage failed to ignite during this flight as well.

After an eight-month interval, the subsequent GSLV mission, now propelled by a Russian cryogenic engine, ended in failure. This marked the conclusion of the seven engines supplied by Russia as part of a deal in the 1990s. A failure analysis revealed malfunctioning electronics within the cryogenic engine.