Isro on Monday launched the GSLV Mark III rocket with the GSAT-19 satellite onboard from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. At 5.28pm, the 43m, 640-tonne geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) Mark III (D1), lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. It demonstrates Isro’s ability to launch satellites weighing as much as 3.5-4 tonnes, up from 2.2-2.3 tons in the past. The GSLV-Mark III rocket is India’s heaviest rocket, weighing as much as five fully loaded Boeing jumbo jets or 200 fully grown elephants. The successful mission means Isro now has a third stream of operational launch vehicles after the polar satellite launch vehicle and the GSLV-Mark II.

Source: Mint June 05, 2017 12:01 UTC