The 7.5-tonne engine, using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, was ignited at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri in southern Tamil Nadu state on Wednesday, the statement said.

"However, the test had to be aborted at 15 seconds instead of the planned duration of 30 seconds," it said.

Indian Space Research Organisation's scientists plan to to analyse the data generated during the aborted test to pinpoint the anamoly and take corrective action, the statement said.

India, which has been working on the project for the last seven years, developed its own cryogenic engine from the scratch, following Russia's denial of the technology under pressure from the United States.

The cryogenic engine was originally scheduled for testing at the end of December 1999.

"Since the engine was moved to the test stand on December 23, 1999, elaborate trials with cryogenic propellants were carried out as part of final preparation and checks prior to the conduct of test," the statement said.

"Wednesday's test also marks the beginning of a series of ground qualification trials of the engine that will be carried out during the next several months," it said.

The cryogenic engine was meant to launch India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.

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