India is now officially prepared to lift the big satellites into space after the test of their GSLV Mark 3 rocket. Besides their latest success of sending 104 satellites in a single mission and setting a world record, they are keeping the momentum going with the testing of this rocket. 

The engine will power the upper stage of the GSLV Mark 3, India’s heaviest launch vehicle capable of sending satellites up to 4 tonnes into geosynchronous transfer orbit. After the first major accomplishment ISRO is anticipating this rocket to be launched later this year with the GSAT-19 satellite on board, rather than relying on their usual transport means from European rockets.

The Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC) in India designed the rocket. The engine  was fired for a total of 640 seconds and determined to be successful. The cryogenic fluids that are used in this super rocket are Liquid Oxygen (LOX) at minus 195 degrees C and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) at minus 253 degrees C which are stored in two insulated tanks weighing in at 27.8 tonnes. The rocket uses two solid strap on boosters, a liquid core stage, and the cryogenic upper stage.