Transport it to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

RAMANATHAPURAM

from Indian Space Research Organisation’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, have taken possession of suspected Brahmos engine, which turned out to be one of the strap-on motors used in PSLV-C44 mission. The motor was washed ashore in the Palk Bay near Panaikulam near here on Friday.

The Marine Police of the Coastal Security Group retrieved the engine on Wednesday and alerted ISRO. Subsequently, a six-member team of scientists from the VSSC and three-member team from ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri in Tirunelveli, visited the seashore on Friday morning and inspected the motor.

The VSSC scientists took possession of the motor and transported it to their centre in a vehicle brought from Thiruvananthapuram, the Marine Police said.

Initial reports suggested that the cylindrical engine, bearing the logo of Brahmos, could have been a liquid propellant engine of the ‘surface to ship’ Brahmos missile and it could have fallen into the Bay of Bengal after it was test-fired along Odisha coast.

ISRO scientists, after a detailed examination, however, said it was one of the HTPB solid propellant strap-on motors, used in PSLV-C44 launched from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, on January 24. In the mission, the PSLV-C44 had successfully injected Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 satellites into orbits.

ISRO scientists lifted the 15-foot-long motor that weighed one tonne, using an earthmover, and transported it in the evening, the police said. On being alerted by the local fishermen, the Marine Police had pulled out the motor that was washed ashore and kept it on the shore.