Sriharikota : ISRO called off the launch of a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) at the eleventh hour on Monday due to fuel leak in its second stage in a setback to the mission to test its homegrown cryogenic engine after its failure three years ago.
The first mission of the rocket (GSLV D-5) in three years on Monday was crucial for testing the cryogenic engine to give the country the capability for launch of big telecommunication satellites and 3,000 kg plus payloads after failures of the earlier GSLV twice in 2010-one with indigenous cryogenic engine and another Russian made.

The much awaited launch process from Sriharikota, for which ISRO had commenced a 29-hour countdown on Sunday, was suspended some 74 minutes ahead of the scheduled launch time of 4.50 pm after officials noticed fuel leak in the second stage of the rocket,sources said.

“The countdown progressed well but we observed a leak in the fuel system of the second stage of the vehicle. And because of this we are calling off the launch,” ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan announced at a press conference at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. A new date will be announced later, he said.