GSLV III to be launched in third week of December

COIMBATORE: Having succeeded in its MARS mission, ISRO is planning for the launch of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) in the third week of this month, a senior official said today.

Speaking at a function "Mangal Mahotsav" to celebrate successful insertion of Mangalyan into MARS orbit, M Pitchaimani, Deputy Director, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru, said through the launch of GSLV-Mk III, Indian national space agency intends to study ascent phase of the rocket as well as the recovery of a human capsule, after it lands in the sea.

The launch would also be the first step towards India's ambitious future Human Space Flight proposal.