India on Monday scripted history as it successfully launched its most powerful and heaviest geostationary rocket carrying advanced communication satellite GSAT-19. On its maiden development flight, the 43.43-metre tall three-stage GSLV MkIII-D1, expected to be the choice of India for taking humans into space in future, lifted off at 5.28 pm from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, about 125 km from Chennai.
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (MkIII D-1) injected the 3,136-kg GSAT-19, the heaviest satellite to be launched from the country yet, into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit about 16 minutes later.
It was a textbook launch as every stage of the three- stage GSLV MkIII with the indegeneous cryogenic engine, performed without any flaw after the powerful rocket blasted off at the end of 25-and-half hour countdown, that began last evening, leaving plumes of smoke and soared into the sky.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists broke into thunderous applause as the complex mission was declared a success, brightening chances of India increasing its share in the commercial launch market. GSLV MkIII can orbit payloads or satellites weighing up to 4,000 kgs into the GTO and 10,000 kgs into Low Earth Orbit.
A beaming ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar termed it as "a historic day" and said the GSLV MkIII D-1 has successfully demonstrated its capabilities with the injection of GSAT-19 into the desired orbit.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress President Sonia Gandhi hailed the successful launch of GSLV-MkIII-D1 and GSAT-19.
Hon. President Pranab Mukherjee said the nation was proud of ISRO's achievement.
The prime minister tweeted:
GSAT-19, which will augment India's communication resources, was released into GTO, some seconds ahead of the appointed time. Billed as a potential game changer satellite, GSAT-19 was equivalent to having a constellation of 6-7 of the older variety of communication satellites in space. It carries Ka/Ku-band high throughput communication transponders and is the heaviest satellite to be built and launched from the country.
Today's GSLV mission is significant for India as ISRO had been depending on foreign launchers for launching communication satellites weighing more than 2,300 kgs. Today's success caps more than a decade of untiring efforts by ISRO which had to overcome several hurdles in cracking the complex cryogenic technology and developing its own C-25 engine, which was used in GSLV MkIII D1. With a lift-off weigh of 640 tons, GSLV MkIII vehicle, which is powered by two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and cryogenic stage (C25), has been designed for carrying heavier four tons class satellites.
"Proud to say ISRO has given birth to a Baahubali," said Tapan Misra, Director, Space Applications Centre (SAC) of ISRO, indicating its enormous power.
Twitter shared the messages:
India celebrates !!! 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 ISRO's landmark launch of heaviest rocket GSLV Mark III. #GSLVMarkIII pic.twitter.com/z8kWHNyxqk — SAKSHI KHANNA (@tweetsakshi) June 5, 2017
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