Proud scientists christen jumbo rocket as ‘Baahubali’

The rocket came in for wholesome after its significant success in launching the country’s heaviest satellite till date – GSAT-19 on its first developmental flight. “Proud to say ISRO has given birth to a Baahubali,” said Tapan Misra, director of Space Applications Centre (SAC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as chuckles broke out at the mission control centre here. 

PV Venkita Krishnan, director of ISRO propulsion complex, described the launch vehicle as a “game-changer” and said it had made “quantum leaps in terms of hardware”. There were more of “swadeshi components” and “minimal” hardware from outside, he said. 

“It has been written that this rocket is monstrous. But it really is a giant vehicle, in terms of capacity and payload capability,” he said. Another senior scientist, involved in the development of cryogenic stage, called the launch vehicle “smart and most obedient boy”.

“This smart and most obedient boy of ISRO. It’s a technological marvel and a masterpiece which has added almost 56 percent of incremental velocity and placed the satellite in the GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit) by giving a total incremental velocity of 37,000 kmph,” he said.

K Sivan, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, said the successful launch marked the commencement of two major technologies. “One is indigenous 100 percent desi heavylift launch vehicle which is capable of lifting twice the capability of (existing) ISRO vehicles.” “Second is advanced high turnout satellite which presents higher data rate,” he remarked.

The nation is proud of ISRO’s achievement of successfully launching the indigenously-developed GSLV-Mk III, India’s heaviest rocket, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday. “The GSLV-Mk III is the heaviest rocket ever made by India and is capable of carrying the heaviest satellites made till date. The nation is proud of this significant achievement,” the President said in a message to A S Kiran Kumar, Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, Space Commission & Chairman, ISRO.