India's heaviest rocket to be launched in June, ISRO gears up for maiden launch

New Delhi: Post the successful launch of the South Asia Satellite, the Indian space agency ISRO is now busy preparing for the maiden launch of its heaviest rocket -- the 640-tonne Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III), which is scheduled for June launch.

The notable aspect of this rocket is that the main and bigger cryogenic engine has been developed by space scientists here and will be powering the rocket for the first time.

"Our 12 years of labour is expected to bear fruit this June. Preparation for the June launch of GSLV Mk III rocket carrying communication satellite GSAT-19 is on at Sriharikota," K. Sivan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), told IANS.

"All the officials are confident of the proposed mission`s success. The strap-on motors and the core stage/engine have been integrated," Sivan added.

Queried about the slight postponement in the rocket`s launch -- earlier it was said the rocket would fly end-May -- Sivan said: "As this is a new rocket, we want to carry out extensive tests and hence there has been a slight change in the launch schedule."

According to him, the GSLV Mk-III will make its maiden voyage during the first week of June.

The GSAT 19, weighing around 3.2 tonnes -- the heaviest satellite to be lifted by an Indian rocket -- is already at the Sriharikota rocket port.

"The rocket`s design carrying capacity is four tonnes. The payload will be gradually increased in the future flights of the GSLV Mk-III," Sivan said.

According to ISRO, GSAT-19 is a multi-beam satellite planned to carry Ka and Ku band forward and return link transponders. The satellite`s design lifespan is 15 years.

The Indian space agency had flown a similar rocket without the cryogenic engine but with 3.7 tonne payload in 2014.

"That was mainly to test the structural stability of the rocket while in flight and the aerodynamics," Sivan said.

During the atmospheric flight phase, a rocket will encounter different kinds of pressures.

(With Agency inputs)