ISRO Successfully Launches India's Heaviest Rocket Wednesday Nov 14,2018

India's heaviest rocket — Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) — carrying 3,423 kg communication satellite GSAT-29 blasted off from the Sriharikota spaceport on Wednesday evening Nov 14,2018

Precisely at 5.08pm, the GSLV-Mk III rocket on its second developmental flight began its ascent with a strong deep growl, breaking free from the second launch pad here at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC). The 43.4-metre rocket weighing about 640 tonne rushed to the blue skies with thick orange flame at its rear.

The GSLV-Mk III with a capacity to carry four-tonne satellite, is a three-stage/engine rocket with two strap-on motors powered by solid fuel. The second stage is a core liquid fuel booster and the third is the cryogenic engine.

The Indian space agency had flown a similar rocket on June 5, 2017, with GSAT-19 satellite. Prior to that ISRO had flown another rocket with 3.7-tonne dummy payload in 2014 to test its in-flight structural stability and aerodynamics.

India currently has two fully operational rockets — the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and GSLV-Mk II — with a lift-off mass of 415 tonnes and a carrying capacity of 2.5 tonnes.