ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar and other scientists during a press conference after successful launch of GSAT-6 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre
The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) today said with two back-to-back successful missions carrying indigenous cryogenic stage, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) has matured into a reliable launch vehicle and paved the way for its future operational missions, providing India with self-sufficiency in launching higher capacity satellites into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
ISRO, on its website on a topic titled 'GSLV SAGA', said while technical criticalities of the complex GSLV system have been overcome, challenges are being taken up for improving the payload capability from the present 2,117 kg to the design target of 2,500 kg. ''Detailed studies are in progress, addressing the various ways of achieving this target'', it said.
ISRO's next GSLV Mission, designated as GSLV-F05, was targeted for launch in July 2016. It will carry the 2200kg INSAT-3DR Meteorological Satellite.
GSLV-F09 was planned in May 2017 to launch the GSAT-9 satellite while the prestigious Chandrayaan-2 Mission was designated for launch by GSLV in 2017-18 time frame.
All the future launches of GSLV will be with the indigenous cryogenic stage.MORE UNI GV GM 1556