The GSLV D3 was carrying a GSAT 4 satellite it was supposed to put into orbit, but stopped emitting signals within minutes of the blast-off, after the rocket attained 60 km altitude, veered off its designated path and splashed into the Bay of Bengal.

K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of Indian Space Research Organization said: “We are not sure whether the main cryogenic engine did ignite. We have to confirm after analyzing the data which is expected to take two or three days.”

The data from the rocket stopped coming after 505 seconds, ISRO officials said. Radhakrishnan said the next GSLV launch with an Indian made cryogenic engine will be launched within a year. The program was not insured. This was the first launch for Radhakrishan after he became ISRO chairman.

It took ISRO scientists 18 years to develop cryogenic motors after its bid to import the technology from Russia in 1992 failed because of opposition from the United States. The powerful booster technology using supercooled liquid fuel is designed to put heavier satellites into high orbits, about 36,000 km from Earth.

Had Thursday’s mission succeeded, using an Indian-made cryogenic engine for the first time, India would have joined a very small group of countries.