Indian rocket launch postponed indefinitely

Indian scientists postponed indefinitely the test launch of a new satellite-carrying rocket, after a dramatic setback on Wednesday.

They aborted a mission in the final seconds, while the countdown was being broadcast live on national television, when flames were seen leaping up the side of the rocket after its engines had ignited.

Officials have since said that one of the boosters apparently failed to produce enough thrust.

The rocket had taken more than ten years to develop at a cost of more than three-hundred-million dollars. It was designed to allow India to launch heavier and more sophisticated satellites into orbit, and so win a slice of the lucrative international launch market.

Eight years ago, the launch of a previous satellite rocket failed because of a computer error.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service