Article Posted on : - Dec 15, 2014

GSLV Mk-III mock-up at Second Launch Pad. An ISRO photo

CHENNAI (PTI): Indian Space agency ISRO would launch the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (LVM3 X mission) on December 18 which would carry active solid boosters, liquid core stage and a passive cryo-stage.

Moving ahead with its launch of crew module recovery experiment, ISRO had earlier said it would launch the heaviest rocket GSLV-MarkIII sometime between December 15 and 20 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

"ISRO's LVM 3 X flight planned on December 18 will carry active Solid boosters, Liquid core stage and a passive Cryo stage," ISRO said in the micro-blogging site Twitter.

"#ISROLVM3 mission would validate its atmospheric ascent, esp. the aerodynamic & control features that cannot be decisively tested on ground," it said.

"#ISROLVM3 flight will carry the CARE (Crew-module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) Module, to be recovered from the Bay of Bengal," it said.

According to Satish Dhawan Space Centre Director, M Y S Prasad, the launch intends to test the atmospheric characteristics and stability of the updated rocket on its way up and would study the crew module on its re-entry into the atmosphere.

While the rocket would cost Rs 140 crore, the crew module would cost Rs 15 crore.

Meanwhile, the space agency was to begin the launch rehearsal for the LVM3 X mission on Sunday night, as announced by its Chairman K Radhakrishnan.