Representational image.

THIRUVANNANTHAPURAM: After the successful launch of the South Asian Satellite GSAT 9 on board GSLV-Mk II , scientists of ISRO centres feel that it was a proud moment to be part of India's space diplomacy initiative and hear praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Now, the team of scientists and engineers are focused on the next mission - the launch of GSLV-MK-III boosted with fully indigenous cryogenic engine by this May end.

“In the previous GSLV launches, some parts of the indigenous cryogenic upper stage (CUS) engine were procured from Russia, but this GSLV-Mark II had more indigenous CUS with propellant acquisition system and umbilicals. This launch was first in terms of use of electric propulsion,” Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director Dr Sivan told TOI on reaching here after the successful mission.

GSLV-Mark II was the eleventh flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the fourth consecutive success achieved by GSLV carrying indigenously-developed CUS, the scientists said.

“After the launch of GSLV-Mk on Friday, now we are focussed on the developmental flight of GSLV-Mk III (D1) which will launch GSAT-19, a communication satellite with advanced spacecraft technologies including bus subsystem experiments in Electrical propulsion System and indigenous Lithium ion battery,” GSLV Mk III project director G Ayyappan said.

This GSLV-MK III rocket with totally indigenous CUS will weigh about 3.5 tons as against the GSLV-MK II vehicle with indigenous CUS stage weighing 2.2 tons, he said.

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) director S Somnath earlier told TOI that the GSLV-Mk III is set to launch the communication satellite GSAT-19 by May end and then PSLV-C38 for the launch of earth observation satellite Cartosat-2E by June first week.

“We could work towards keeping up the promise made by the Prime Minister in offering this South Asian satellite as a gift to the neighbouring SAARC countries, except Pakistan which had opted out,” said a scientist at VSSC here.

