The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the first suborbital test flight of GSLV Mark III experimental mission with unmanned crew module within 45 days taking a step closer to sending astronauts into space.The Mark III will be one of the heaviest indigenous launch vehicles, said K Radhakrishnan, Chairman of ISRO, after witnessing the successful launch of PSLV C26 at 1.32 a.m. from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here.The MARK III launch is designed to make ISRO self-reliant in launching heavier communication satellites weighing 4,500 to 5,000 kg and enhances the country’s capability to be a competitive player in the multi-million dollar commercial launch market.

Typical parameters of GSLV Mark III are: (i) Lift off weight – 630 tonne; (ii) Payload – 4 tonne to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and (iii) Height – 42.4 metre.

Perfect launch

At the terrace of the media centre, there was pin drop silence as the 10-second countdown started for the launch. With a half moon in the background, the rocket took off with an orange glow brightening the dark sky near the launch pad located nearly 5 km from the media centre.

PSLV C26 has precisely placed IRNSS-1C in its orbit. In the last four days, nearly 1,000 members were involved round-the-clock in making the mission a success, said Radhakrishnan.

The PSLV C26 carried the 1,425-kg Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS-1C). It was the 27th straight successful launch of ISRO’s workhorse vehicle. The 67-hour countdown for the mission commenced at 0632 hours on October 13. The launch was supposed to be on October 10 but was postponed by a week due to technical issues.

The IRNSS-1C was the third satellite (of the total seven) of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System with four more planned to be launched before 2015. Similar in composition to its predecessors 1A and 1B, it is an independent regional satellite system designed to provide accurate position information service to users in the country as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary.

The IRNSS-1C carried two types of payload – navigation and ranging. The navigation will transmit navigation service signals.

Jitender Singh, Minister of State of Atomic Energy and Space, told scientists after watching the launch that India will soon have its own navigational satellite system, which is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India vision.

“We have now emerged as a world leader in the area of space technology.”

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