ISRO’s Latest launch is the GSLV mission. Interestingly enough, though, the GSLV rocket is referred to as the “naughty boy”. What might be the significance of this intriguing description? Continue reading.

For ISRO, Saturday was a proud day. The INSAT-3DS, a cutting-edge meteorological satellite, was launched on February 18. It is assumed that the two meteorological satellites, INSAT-3DR and INSAT-3D, will have enhanced capabilities with the launch of INSAT-3DS. There are high hopes for the launch because it could improve disaster management services, weather and climate prediction services, and more.

Interestingly, though, it appears that the rocket—rather than the satellite—is the primary player in this scenario. The INSAT-3DS satellite was launched atop a GSLV-F14 rocket. One of ISRO’s three main rockets for carrying satellites is the GSLV, as it has proven.

The LVM3 and the PSLV are the other two rockets.

That the GSLV has been dubbed the “naughty boy” is something that has shocked a lot of people. The GSLV hasn’t exactly had a good track record, which is the reason given. Still, the rocket’s Sunday flight was fairly smooth.

The reason behind the nickname “naughty boy”

The GSLV has taken flight more than once. There have been fifteen flights of the GSLV before this Saturday’s flight. However, four of these flights were unsuccessful. The bulk of ISRO’s missions have been carried out using the PSLV rocket. On the other hand, the PSLV has proven to be a successful one, failing in just two of its sixty launches. Furthermore, despite having only flown seven times previously, the LVM3 rocket has never missed a shot.

With GSLV, however, the tale is not the same. The most recent failure of the GSLV occurred in August of 2021. Saturday’s flight was a success.

What is the problem with GSLV?

There are no questions regarding GSLV’s capabilities. It is a rocket that is even more potent than the PSLV. It also can support over 2,200 kg in geostationary orbits. It can successfully transport 6,000 kg or so to low-Earth orbit.

Given the rocket’s extraordinary capabilities, what might be the cause of its inconsistent performance history? Well, the problem has been with the cryogenic engine. This engine is what propels a flight’s last phase.