Gaganyaan: GSLV's first human-rated rocket booster tests successful

THRIUVANANTHAPURAM: The first static test of human-rated solid rocket booster of satellite launch vehicle GSLV Mk III for the Gaganyaan programme has become successful. With this, the ISRO has passed a crucial stage of Gaganyaan's preparations.

The test was conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh,The 135 seconds test firing of the booster happened at 7.20 am.

The GSLV rocket carrying the Gaganyaan spacecraft is lifted off the ground by a solid booster. The booster is 20 metres long and 3.2 metres in diameter. It is the second largest solid fuel booster in the world. The motor casting of the booster designed at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram was done at Sriharikota.

The event was witnessed by ISRO Chairman and Secretary in the Department of Space, S Somanath, and Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) S Unnikrishnan Nair along with other ISRO scientists.