Reports noted that preparations by the ISRO to launch its next generation space launch vehicle, the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle III (GSLV-III) in January 2010 were continuing apace.1 The three-stage vehicle powered by a 200-tonne solid propellant will be the third largest rocket in the world. A diameter of 3.2 metres also makes the GSLV III the second largest in the world. The US Space Shuttle’s rocket booster has a diameter of 3.6 and the European Ariane rocket has a diametre of 3.05 metres. The fuel burn time for GSLV Mark III will be 103 seconds, compared with 130 seconds for Ariane and 123 seconds for US Space Shuttle.

More powerful than the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the GSLV can place 2.5 tonne payloads in a Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO). The rocket has a launch weight of 630 tonnes and the first and second stages will be propelled by solid propellants, whereas the third stage will be boosted by a combination of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

• 1. ‘India to test world’s third largest solid rocket booster’, MSN News, 7 December, 2009, http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3474040