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The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro's) first sub-orbital flight and India's latest generation launch vehicle- GSLV Mark-III lifted off successfully from the Sriharikotta space station, near Chennai at 9:30 am today.
The S200 stage performance and the L110 stage performance are normal, Isro said. The vehicle is also carrying the Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE), the main parachutes for which have been deployed successfully, it added.
"India started development of the rocket a decade ago and today completed the first experimental flight. The performance of the solid and the liquid engines was as expected. The unmanned crew module splashed in Bay of Bengal as expected," said Isro Chairman K Radhakrishnan.
The 630-tonne three-stage rocket, Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III, carries active solid boosters, liquid core stage and a passive cryo stage and a crew module to test its re-entry characteristics.
This rocket is capable of doubling the capacity of payloads India can carry into space and it can deposit up to four tonne class of communication satellites into space.
Cost of this experimental mission is Rs 155 crore.
"India has got a new launch vehicle now. This will change our destiny," said S Somanath, project director of GSLV Mark III.
"Successful launch of GSLV Mk-III is yet another triumph of brilliance and hardwork of our scientists. Congrats to them for the efforts," said PM Narendra Modi.
Isro plans to use this rocket for ferrying Indian astronauts into space. The agency said the rocket will be tested on how it performs during its travel in the atmosphere. The first two stages are active rocket engines, while the third stage that consists of the cryogenic engine is a passive stage.
The heavy-duty cryogenic engine necessary for this rocket is still under development by Isro and a full-fledged launch of the rocket can be expected in a few years.
Earlier M Y S Prasad, director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR - Sriharikota said, "the main purpose of the mission is to test the atmospheric characteristics and stability of the rocket on its way up".
Isro also decided to use this opportunity to test the component of a crew module, which may provide insights for a human space mission that India may embark on at a later date.
According to Prasad, this rocket will not have the critical cryogenic engine for putting four tonne satellites into orbit. The cryogenic engine is under development and it will take more two years to be ready, he added.
As the other rocket engines are ready, Isro decided to have this mission and the crew module will not carry any living being and it is only for study purposes, the agency clarified.
