Sriharikota: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday set a new precedent for itself as it successfully launched GSLV-Mark III, India’s heaviest rocket till date.
The GSLV-Mark III carried a 3,136-kg GSAT-19 communication satellite – the heaviest to be lifted by an Indian rocket till date from Indian soil – to an altitude of around 179 km above the Earth after just over 16 minutes into the flight.
Interestingly, the ISRO’s new and heaviest rocket GSLV-Mark III earned two nicknames. While ISRO officials call the 640 tonne GSLV Mark III “fat boy”, the Telugu media has nicknamed it Baahubali.
Meanwhile speaking on the successful launch, ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar said: “It is a historic day… Both the GSLV Mk-III and the GSAT-19 launch have been successful… We are looking forward to its (GSAT-19) operations.”
He also said that ISRO has been working on this project since 2002 and this itself speaks volumes of the commitment that ISRO’s scientists have demonstrated towards this cause.
