ISRO says GSLV Mk-III not to be launched on January 20; will carry GSAT-19 satellite in March-April

The launch of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GSLV Mk-III has been postponed to March-April this year, reports have said. GSLV Mk-III, the heaviest rocket belonging to ISRO, was scheduled to be launched on January 20.

According to report, the GSLV Mk-III launch has been postponed due to the pending tests that need to be conducted on the vehicle. The launch of GSLV Mk-III will now take place after completion of the pending tests either in March or April.

“Some more tests are planned for the vehicle and the stage level tests also got delayed. Now, these tests will be conducted this month. If any issues arise during the tests we will correct them,” K Sivan, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram told a leading national daily.

The GSLV Mk-III rocket will carry the 3.2 tonne GSAT-19 satellite.

In December 2016, the high altitude test for GSLV Mk-III’s large cryogenic engine CE-20 was successfully carried out. Apart from GSLV Mk-III, ISRO also has plans to launch the SAARC satellite with GSLV Mk-II rocket in March-April.

“We are planning to launch both the GSLV Mk-III and GSLV Mk-II rockets in March and April. Maybe one will be launched in March and another one in April depending on the availability of the launch pad,” K Sivan added.

Also, ISRO will be launching a record number of 103 satellites using the PSLV rocket in February this year.

“The PSLV-C37 rocket will launch 103 micro-small satellites during the second week of February,” K Sivan told Deccan Chronicle.