Indian telecommunication satellite launch on hold

India has put on hold the launch of rocket GSLV-D5, which was proposed to a carry a telecommunication satellite, into space after a fuel leak was detected in it, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said on Tuesday. The department said that the rocket was scheduled to be launched on August 19 after noon from Sriharikota rocket port in the southern State of Andhra Pradesh. "The rocket launch is called off, as a leak is observed in the UH 25 fuel system of the liquid second stage during the pre-launch pressurization phase on the vehicle just two hours before the scheduled lift-off," the ISRO stated. The ISRO said the propellants are being drained from the Cryogenic Stage, Liquid Second Stage, and the four liquid Strap-ons of GSLV-D5. The 49.13 metre tall GSLV-D5 rocket weighing 414.75 tonnes was to cruise for 17 minutes and eight seconds before placing telecommunication satellite GSAT-14 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). GSAT-14, which weighs 1,982 kg, will be used for telecast and telecommunication.