ISRO rocket launch postponed in wake of missing IAF aircraft search!

Chennai/New Delhi: Amid reports and an ensuing search of a missing AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) with 29 personnel on board, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to postpone the date for the testing of its air-breathing engine.

"The testing of the scramjet engine has been postponed without any timeline. We do not want to pressurise since the search for the IAF's AN-32 plane is on over the Bay of Bengal," a senior official of ISRO told IANS preferring anonymity.

Officials of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had earlier said the scramjet engine would be tested this week.

During the testing, the air space would be required to be kept clear so that no plane comes in the path of the speeding up rocket and traffic in the sea is also stopped.

The IAF aircraft was on a routine courier flight from Tambaram (Chennai) to Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar islands), when it disappeared from the radar and has been missing since July 22, 2016.

Officials said before the launch of any rocket, IAF, civil aviation and naval authorities would be informed about the rocket flight timings so that the air and sea are clear.

Traffic on the sea is stopped so that ships/boats do not come in the path of the falling burnt out stages/rocket engine or even the rocket when they fall into the sea.

According to ISRO, the scramjet engine will be tested on a RH-560 sounding rocket.

As per Coast Guard officials, there are currently no signs of any IAF plane debris on the sea, nor any traces of oil on the sea surface that could be connected to the missing plane.

(With IANS inputs)