India's heaviest satellite GSAT-19 to be launched today

New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will on Monday launch GSLV-Mark III, a heavy lift rocket capable of carrying humans, into geo synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota at 5 p.m. The rocket is carrying 3,136-kilogram weighed GSAT-19 communication satellite and will place it a distance of 36,000 km from earth. The rocket was developed for 15 years at a cost of around Rs. 300 crore. Dubbed by the scientists as the "Monster Rocket", it has the capability to launch satellites as heavy as 4 tonnes, i.e. 4000 kilograms. Currently, India has to take the help of foreign countries if it wants to launch communication satellites beyond 2.3 tons. With this India will be in the elite club of launching a heavy satellite. So far, the United States, Russia, Europe, China and Japan have achieved this feat. The rocket is powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine that uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants. The flight's launch is expected to boost India's assertions of putting humans into space. Reportedly, the ISRO has asked Rs. 12,500 crore from the Centre for its mission to place humans in space. If approved, the work is expected to take roughly seven years. The premiere space agency has already developed critical technologies for a human space mission. The space suit is ready and a crew module was tested in 2014. (ANI)