ISRO LAUNCHES FAT BOY, ITS MOST POWERFUL ROCKET
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Monday crossed a major milestone by successfully launching its most powerful rocket, which can carry a fourtonne communication satellite.
The rocket can also carry a 10-tonne capsule for a manned mission into low earth orbit.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III), nicknamed Fat Boy, would help Isro reduce reliance on foreign launchers for heavier satellites. It has contracted French space agency Arianespace to launch its 4-6-tonne satellites for communication and direct-tohome TV telecast.
Isro would start using the indigenous rocket for all launches after one more development flight, said Chairman A S Kiran Kumar.
Fat Boy will also help Isro tap the global market to launch communication satellites of 2-4 tonnes. India is among the handful of countries with the technology to launch satellites.
At 5.28 pm, Fat Boy took off from the second launch pad at the Sriharikota space port, near Chennai. The rocket carried a 3,136-kg GSAT-19 satellite with communication transponders. The satellite will test various technologies. Sixteen minutes later, the rocket hurled the GSAT-19 into the intended orbit. The satellite is equivalent to having capabilities of six to seven older communication satellites.
Kiran Kumar said: “This is a historic day for us. Isro has demonstrated its capability by making the mission successful. It is a great success in the first maiden attempt and GSLV Mk-III has successfully put in orbit GSAT-19 which is a next generation satellite.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch, saying it took India closer to next generation satellite capability.
The GSAT-19, with a lifespan of 10 years, will help study the nature of charged particles and the influence of space radiation on satellites. The GSLV Mk-III rocket is powered by a homegrown design developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Mahendragiri.
P V Venkitakrishnan, director of Isro Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, said the GSLV Mk-III has more Indian components in the vehicle than any other. Each equipment passed the test in the first test itself, he said.