India's largest Rocket GSLV-MK III lifts off successfully from Sriharikota

The Rs.155 crore mission has twin purposes. First is to test the rocket's atmospheric flight stability powered by two engines with around four tonne luggage. The second and incidental objective is to study the re-entry characteristics of the 3.7 tonne crew module-called Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment - its aero braking and validation of its end-to-end parachute system.

According to an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official, it will be of the size of a small bedroom and can accommodate two to three people.

The crew module would descend towards Earth after its ejection at an altitude of 126 km and its speed would be remotely controlled by ISRO officials by its on-board motors. When the module reaches an altitude of 80 km above Earth, the on-board thrusters would be shut off. The module will re-enter Earth's atmosphere at a great speed and the outer temperature touching around 1,600 degrees



centigrade.

At an altitude of around 15 km, the module's apex cover would separate followed by the deployment of the parachutes so as to soft crash in Bay of Bengal near Andaman and Nicobar Islands. From here the crew module would begin its multi-modal and multi-state journey.A naval ship tracking the signals from the module will pick up the module and deliver it at the Ennore Port near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. From there it will be brought to Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and then it will be taken to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvanthapuram in Kerala.

The GSLV-Mark III is designed to be a three stage/engine rocket with a lift off weight of 630 tonnes. The first stage comprises two identical S-200 large solid boosters with 200 tonne solid propellant that are strapped on to the second stage, the L110 re-startable liquid stage. The third stage/engine is the cryogenic.