Delighted by the successful launch, ISRO scientists on Monday called India's heaviest rocket, GSLV MKIII-D1, "Baahubali" and "obedient boy". The rocket was launched successfully by the jubilant scientists in Sriharikota.
ISRO's heaviest rocket GSLV Mk-III, carrying communication satellite GSAT-19, took off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Monday. "Proud to say ISRO has given birth to a Bahubali," said Tapan Misra, director of Space Applications Centre (SAC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
PV Venkita Krishnan, director of ISRO propulsion complex, described the launch vehicle as a "game-changer" and said it had made "quantum leaps in terms of hardware". There were more of "swadeshi components" and "minimal" hardware from outside, he said.
"It has been written that this rocket is monstrous. But it really is a giant vehicle, in terms of capacity and payload capability," he said.
This heavy lift rocket is capable of placing up to 8 tons in a low Earth orbit, enough to carry India's crew module. ISRO has already prepared plans of hoisting a 2-3 member human crew into space as soon as the government gives it a sanction of about 3-4 billion dollars. If the human venture materialises, India would become only the fourth country after Russia, the US and China to have a human space flight program.
Incidentally ISRO asserts the first Indian to go into space could well be a woman! "In principle, it will be the GSLV Mk-3 or its variant that will be human rated in future," Kumar confirms.
Prime Minister tweeted his wishes to the scientists behind the mission
This is how ISRO launched the GSLV MK III was launched on Monday:
Jun 05, 2017 GSLV Mk III-D1 Successfully launches GSAT-19
Jun 05, 2017 GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission: GSAT-19 separated and injected into orbit successfully.
Jun 05, 2017 GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission: Cryogenic Stage Performance is Normal
Jun 05, 2017 GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission: L110 Separated Successfully. C25 Ignition confirmed.
Jun 05, 2017 GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission: L110 Ignited. Vehicle Peformance is Normal
Jun 05, 2017 GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission Lift off Normal
Jun 05, 2017 Mission Director has authorised Vehicle Director for launch. Automatic Launch Sequence (ALS) program initiation authorised by Vehicle Director and ALS started for launch of GSLV Mk III D1 / GSAT-19 mission at 17:17 Hrs IST
Jun 05, 2017 GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19: Propellant filling operations of cryo stage are completed
Jun 05, 2017 Propellant filling operations of L110 (Second Stage) of GSLV Mk III D1 are completed
Jun 04, 2017 Propellant filling operations of L110 (Second Stage) of GSLV Mk III D1 are under progress. Countdown is progressing normally.
(With inputs from PTI and ISRO website)
