Decks were cleared for the January 5 launch of India’s rejuvenated indigenous cryogenic engine fitted GSLV-D5 carrying communication satellite GSAT-14 from the spaceport of Sriharikota with ISRO’s Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) giving its nod for the key mission today.

A 29-hour countdown for the launch is set to commence on January 4 next, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources said.

“The Launch Authorisation Board has cleared the GSLV D5 launch for January 5. A 29-hour countdown is set to commence on January 4 at around 11 am,” an ISRO official said.

GSLV D5 would be launched at 4.18 pm from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, about 100 km from here.

The Launch Authorisation Board met at the SDSC.

Following the clearance, the launch vehicle would be moved to the launch pad tomorrow around 6 am, the sources said.

The launch vehicle had already been integrated with the 1,980 kg GSAT 14.

GSLV D5’s mission was aborted at the eleventh hour on August 19 this year due to a fuel leak in its second stage.

Fuel tank made of aluminium alloy called Afnor 7020 tended to develop crack over a period of time and the leak was blamed on it following which the rocket had been rejuvenated.

The GSLV is designed to inject its passenger spacecraft into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a combination of solid, earth-storable liquid and cryogenic propellants in its first, second and third stages, respectively.

The lift-off has been further augmented by the four earth-storable liquid strap-on boosters attached to the first stage, they said.

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