Monday, January 31 2005 16:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: The first launch of India's geo-stationary satellite launch vehicle (GSLV), powered by indigenous cryogenic engine, will take place in mid 2007, Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in Hyderabad today (Jan 31, 2005).

It will put in orbit INSAT-4C, which will become the first satellite in the INSAT series to be launched from the Indian soil.

All INSAT satellites so far were launched from abroad by either American or European rockets.

ISRO will start building one GSLV per year beginning next year, Nair told reporters on the sidelines of the international conference on "Aerospace Mechanisms".

All three GSLV launches from Sriharikota so far were made using cryogenic engines bought from Russia. They carried payloads weighing less than 2000-kg. The INSAT satellites are heavier.