After the successful MARS mission, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to take the first step to take Indians into space. The experimental flight of the heaviest rocket in history, GSLV-Mark III is set to carry the crew module between 15th and 20th December 2014 from Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota. The rocket will be launched in the morning on any of the above mentioned dates, the final date will probably be announced within a week. The above mentioned period was chosen as the launch date as the weather conditions are expected to be stable during the period which is very important for a safe flight.
The GSLV-Mark III has been under construction since the year 2000. With the budget of Rs. 155 crore for the entire mission, this is an entirely new rocket which has the ability to carry nearly 4 tonnes of payload. The rocket will only go at a distance of 126 km from the earth and will be brought back. The main aim of the scientists is to test the behaviour of the rocket once it leaves the atmosphere.
This launch will only test the first two stages i.e. the booster and the core stage since the cryogenic engine which is to be used in the rocket is not ready yet. The launch will test the ability of the crew module to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere without getting burnt where the temperature is about 1500 degree celsius. This is the most crucial phase of the mission. At the distance of 126 km from the earth, the crew module will be detached from the rocket and will fall back into the earth's atmosphere. After nearly 20 minutes of the launch from the earth, the module will fall into the Bay of Bengal with the help of four parachutes.
The GSLV-Mark III vehicle is different from the GSLV models so that the rocket is more atmospheric resistant when it re-enters the Earth. With this rocket launch ISRO is aims at sending an astronaut in the next 7 to 8 years after the government gives a final green signal. The only Indian who went to space is Rakesh Sharma in the year 1984 aboard the Soyuz T-11 as part of the Soviet intercosmos space program.
Post the success of this mission, India will take a step ahead towards the Human Space Flight Proposal. Furthermore, ISRO will become self reliant in launching communication satellites of the INSAT-IV Class. This may lead to the establishment of India's very own space station in the near future if the mission proves to be successful.
