India launches heaviest rocket into space

NEW DELHI India launched its heaviest rocket on Monday, the country’s space agency said. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) was launched with a communications satellite from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement. The 640-tonne rocket will give India greater ability to send its own and other countries’ communications satellites and eventually become the fourth country to send a person into space. “This mission is important as it is the heaviest-ever rocket and satellite to be launched from India,” ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said. The GSLV Mark III can carry put a payload of more than three tonnes into orbit. “Congratulations to the dedicated scientists of ISRO for the successful launch,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.