India gets a solid boost to its rockets

India’s dream of sending heavy communication satellites into the 36,000 km geostationary orbit has become a reality with engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully test-firing a solid booster rocket (S200) at the Satish Dhavan Space Centre, Sriharikota on Sunday.

“Two similar motors will be assembled as strap-on to the Geo Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III for launching heavy communication satellites into geostationary orbit. We have almost realised our dream to have giant launch vehicles,” Mr S. Satish, director, communications, Isro, said.

The GSLV-Mk III is the most powerful rocket yet designed by Indian scientists, for both human space flights and to place heavy satellites into orbit. This is scheduled to make its first journey into space in 2011. It will make India self-reliant in launching satellites weighing up to 4 tonnes. Hitherto, the country was dependent on the European Space Agency for its heavy communication satellites.

The test-firing was done at 8 am in the presence of the Isro chairman, Dr K. Radhakrishnan. “A similar test will be conducted after six months and then it is time to get ready for the launch,” said Mr Satish.