Bangalore: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on May 2 set 17:30 hours (IST) on May 8 for the launch of indigenous Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D2), ISRO sources said.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of senior officials of the Bangalore-headquartered space agency on May 2, sources said.

GSLV-D2 would carry on board the second technology experiment satellite GSAT-2. The launch would be from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the spaceport of Sriharikota.

It comes more than two years after the first launch of GSLV on April 18, 2001.

The development of GSLV is the most challenging programme undertaken by Indian space scientists till date.

The launch of GSLV-D2 is significant as it would mark another major step by New Delhi towards making the country's space programme self-reliant.

GSLV is expected to be commissioned after the third successful development flight. Post- operationalisation, India is expected to save considerable foreign exchange as it would be then in a position to launch heavier satellites on its own.

PTI