India's GSLV-D3 powered by homegrown cryogenic engine for the first time failed in its mission as the rocket carrying a communication satellite deviated today from its path and went out of control shortly after its lift-off from the spaceport here on Thursday.

"The mission objectives are not met fully. There are indications that the cryogenic engine ignited but the vehicle was tumbling and controllability lost," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said.

The 49-metre tall three-stage Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle blasted off at 4.27 pm at the end of a 29-hour countdown but minutes later ISRO said it had stopped receiving data.

"We saw the vehicle tumbling uncontrollably and it developed deviation. Two vernier engines would not have ignited," Radhakrishnan, for whom it was the first mission after taking over as ISRO chief, told mission scientists as gloom descended on the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.