India all set to launch geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle

BANGALORE, India, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) on April 15, said ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan here Thursday.

"We are talking about a technology that only five countries in the world possess today. It's a technology which one country prevented another country from transferring which are the geo- political ramifications of this technology," said Radhakrishnan.

The GSLV will be powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine.

The cryogenic engines are more efficient and provide more thrust. It will help ISRO launch heavier satellites in the future.

The United States had prevented Russia from transferring cryogenic technology to India in 1990s.

"We got seven stages from Russia but if we have to continue our program and to launch communication satellites, transponders in the orbit, we need to have this technology. So it was imperative for us to develop it," Radhakrishnan added.

It is believed that with the cryogenic technology now powering it, the space agency will be launching many more sophisticated satellites in the future.