[11-16-07 – Satellite Today] The Indian Space Reseach Organization (ISRO) has tested an indigenously developed cryogenic stage that will serve as the upper stage of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), ISRO announced Nov. 15.
     The Cryogenic Upper Stage is powered by a regeneratively cooled cryogenic engine and is powered by a liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.
    Separately, ISRO and Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) signed an agreement to cooperate on joint lunar research and exploration. The two countries will create Chandrayaan-2, a joint lunar mission involving a lunar orbiting spacecraft and a lander/rover on the moon’s surface. ISRO will have the prime responsibility for the orbiter, and Roskosmos will be responsible for the lander/rover.
    Chandrayaan-2 will be launched on a GSLV in 2011 or 2012, ISRO said.