Article Posted on : - Dec 11, 2014

GSLV-Mk III mock-up at Second Launch Pad. Photo: ISRO.

BENGALURU (PTI): India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) scheduled to be launched next week has been rolled out to the launch pad at Sriharikota for an experimental mission, ISRO on Thursday said.

"ISRO's most powerful launcher ever, GSLV Mk-III rolls out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad for its Experimental Flight slated later in this month," Indian Space Research Organisation said on its Facebook page.

First experimental suborbital flight of India's latest generation Launch Vehicle- GSLV Mk-III, carrying Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) is scheduled in the third week of December 2014 from SDSC (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) SHAR (Sriharikota Range), in Andhra Pradesh.

The 630-tonne GSLV-MkIII will carry a crew module of 3.65 tonnes, as ISRO plans to send astronauts into space eventually.

Realisation of 42.4 metre tall GSLV Mk-III will help ISRO to put heavier satellites into orbit.

GSLV Mk III is conceived and designed to make ISRO fully self reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh 4500 to 5000 kg.

It would also enhance the capability of the country to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar commercial launch market.