India postpones test-launch of Agni V missile
The launch of the Agni V, which can carry nuclear warheads and has a range of 5,000 km (3,125 miles), will thrust the emerging Asian power into an elite club of nations with intercontinental nuclear defence capabilities.
"Due to heavy lightning in the area, the scheduled test flight of Agni V has been postponed til tomorrow for safety reasons," defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar told Reuters.
The launch of the Indian-made Agni V, if successful, would be the crowning achievement of a missile programme developed primarily to counter any threat from China.
Only the UN Security Council permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United States and Britain - have such long-range weapons.
The planned launch, which was flagged well in advance, has attracted none of the criticism faced by hermit state North Korea for its failed bid to test a missile last week.
"We do not consider India a threat to NATO allies or NATO territory," NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels ahead of the launch.
Thursday's launch may prompt a renewed push from within the defence establishment to build a fully fledged intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the Americas, though some of India's allies may bridle at such an ambition.
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@Chetan:
the agni V team wanted to go ahead with the test even in bad weather....but the telemetry team (which tracks the missile n is nowhere related to the missile) did not give clearance
@Chetan: improve yourself man. its first test, have to measure many parameters with pinpoint accuracy and error-freely.
@Chetan: I agree.But first leg of any testing begins with ideal condition. If teh missile fails in ideal conditions itself there will be no meaning in testing it against bad weather. besides every missile test is an expensive deal. So curb your enthusiasm in criticizing the test. It's is missile testing not Diwali rocket test :)
Watch what George Carlin has to say about wars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDkhzHQO7jY
@chetan: Its Ok. It is the first test, and any entity will take utmost precaution to test a product in good conditions. Also all these tests cost millions. As more and more tests are performed in future, they will increasingly be tested in difficult conditions. Nothing wrong in it. NASA has tested thousands of space rocket but will still postpone a launch if weather is not favorable. Does that mean NASA's mature equipments have issues? What a crazy logic.
It's exactly what it says, a "test". Why would anybody that wanted to test ANY piece of equipment ignore the slightest of safety concerns. I'm sure if the missle had been proven and ready to use, weather would not be a concern if they were under attack. They did the right thing by being cautious. Err on the side of safety.
Doesn't missile test mean, test against bad weather as well, does it mean the missile will not be used during bad weather in case of war .Or may be it will be weather tested again later.