Indian cryogenic rocket launch fails

India’s space programme suffered a setback Thursday as its indigenous cryogenic engines failed to ignite.

Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K. Radhakrishan said that the mission did not perform as planned as two Verinier cryogenic engines failed to ignite though the main engine lifted off.

The GSLV D3 blasted off with a GSAT 4 satellite around 5 p.m. but then stopped emitting signals within minutes.

“The vehicle started tumbling and started losing altitude, because two engines would not have ignited,” he said.