spacetoday.net: Fuel leak postpones GSLV launch

Posted: Tue, Aug 20, 2013, 8:54 AM ET (1254 GMT)
GSLV-D5 before launch (ISRO)

A fuel leak focused the Indian space agency to scrub Monday's scheduled launch of its GSLV rocket, a problem that will likely lead to a lengthy delay. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had planned to launch the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) at 7:20 am EDT (1120 GMT, 4:50 pm Indian time) Monday. However, the launch was scrubbed less than two hours before launch when technicians detected a fuel leak in the rocket's second stage. No new launch date for the GSLV has been announced, but the vehicle will be moved back to its assembly building, suggesting a delay of more than several days. The launch is the first for the GSLV since an unsuccessful launch in December 2010; three of the last four GSLV launches, dating back to 2006, have failed. The GSLV is carrying the GSAT 14 communications satellite.