An Indian rocket blows up in mid air

Here's a fiery portrait of India's second failed launch of 2010. The GSAT-5P, launching a new geosynchronous communications satellite, broke up in the first stage and exploded. How did this happen?

According to press accounts, the GSAT-5P rocket developed an error soon after launch and took on too high an angle during launch, causing the vehicle to break up. Back in April, an earlier launch by the state-run Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) plunged into the Bay of Benghal, due to engine failure.

The GSAT-5P satellite was supposed to replace the outdated INSAT 2E and ensure a continuity of television and telecom services in India.


Here's another photo of GSAT-5P exploding:

An Indian rocket blows up in mid air

Photos by Associated Press.