The long-duration test-firing of the core stage of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV- Mark III) (for about 200 seconds) at Mahendragiri near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu was stopped on Friday evening after 150 seconds, owing to a deviation in one of the parameters, said an official of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The core stage, powered by 110 tons of liquid propellants, is called L-110.

The test took place at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC). ISRO officials said the data from the test was being analyzed to find out why the deviation occurred. More than 500 parameters are analyzed during the test. This liquid stage is 17 metres in length and four metres in diameter. The GSLV-Mark III will have three stages. Two boosters, powered by solid propellants, form the first stage. The boosters hug the core/second liquid stage. Above this liquid stage is the cryogenic stage. The rocket, weighing 630 tonnes, stands 43.5 metres tall. It can put a satellite weighing four tonnes in a geo-synchronous transfer orbit with a perigee of about 200 km and an apogee of 36,000 km. A GSLV-Mark III flight from Sriharikota is expected by 2011-end. (Source: The Hindu)