7.6.17

`Fat boy' puts ISRO on Cloud Nine





When the first developmental flight of GSLVMk III pierced through the sky after its launch from the Sriharikota launch pad at 5.28 pm on Monday, it finally broke ISRO's jinx of failing to achieve success in maiden rocket launches.

Isro's 640-tonne `fat boy' ended the phase of uncertainties when it placed the advanced communication satellite Gsat-19 into orbit around 16 minutes after the launch and helped the space agency achieve a new milestone of launching a four-tonne satellite into the geo-stationary orbit. With this, India has entered the global market of heavy payload launches.

The Prime Minister congratulated each member of the Isro team.

The successful launch of GSLV Mk III, which cost Isro Rs.300 crore, has also set the stage for Isro's manned mission. Not only the rocket, the GSLV Mk III launch has also proved the efficiency of CE20 indigenous cryogenic engine, a completely new technology designed to double the thrust and capability to lift double the payload than the previous GSLV Mk II, which could only carry a 2-tonne payload.

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