SRIHARIKOTA : GSLV-D5, powered by the indigenous cryogenic engine, blasted off from the SHAR Range at 1618 hrs.
The 49.13 m tall vehicle, carrying ISRO’s 23rd Geostationary Communication Satellite GSAT-14, weighing 1982 kg, took off from the Second Launch Pad as scheduled at 1618 hrs after a 29 hour countdown.
It was an awesome sight as the giant vehicle took off flawlessly and soared into the skies with a rumble that shook the earth.
Scientists at the Mission Control Centre were watching the course of the flight with bated breath.
The mission, the first in four years after the twin failures in 2010, assumes significance as ISRO would be testing its own cryogenic engine, a complex technology it has been seeking to master, over the years.
The success of this mission would lead to India joining a select band of nations, including US and Russia, in mastering this technology that would enable ISRO to launch heavier communication satellites on its own. (AGENCIES)
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