SRIHARIKOTA, India, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- A rocket carrying a communications satellite exploded shortly after takeoff in India Saturday, dealing a blow to the country's space program, officials said.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle -- GSLV-FO6 -- burst into flames less than a minute after liftoff from India's spaceport at Sriharikota, NetIndian News Network reported.
The rocket was to have carried a 2-ton GSAT-5P communications satellite into orbit.
A successful launch would have placed India among the few nations capable of putting such large satellites in orbit. However, it became the second failure in a row, the first coming in April.
NetIndian News said the rocket lifted off as expected and performed normally until the second stage failed to ignite about 47 seconds into its flight and the vehicle lost altitude. It started tumbling and splashed into the sea, the network said.
