The Indian space agency will test fly its heaviest rocket GSLV-Mark III designed to carry satellites weighing around four tonnes. While the rocket’s cryogenic engine is under development, ISRO decided to test the atmospheric flight stability of the rocket, with the two engines carrying a giant cup cake alike crew module. The crew module will not carry any living being and is only for learning the atmospheric re-entry characteristics of the module.

The main objective of the crew module is to demonstrate its re-entry flight and aero braking; end-to-end parachute system validation. The 630-tonne rocket will go up to 126 km. The crew capsule got detached and fell into the Bay of Bengal 20 minutes after blast off. The descent speed of the crew module will be controlled by three parachutes. According to an ISRO official, it will be in the size of a small bedroom and can accommodate two-three people. On infrastructure development, Radhakrishnan said the second rocket assembly building at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh will increase the number of launches from the second launch pad.

“Study is under progress on the construction of a third launch pad. We have to take into consideration the kind of launch vehicles - GSLV-Mark III - and other future rockets to be developed while building the third launch pad,” Radhakrishnan said.