President Mukherjee, PM Modi congratulate ISRO on launch of GSLV-Mk III

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) communication satellite GSAT-19, carried onboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-mark III ), launches at Sriharikota on June 5, 2017. India's most powerful homegrown rocket to date launched June 5, another milestone for its indigenous space programme that one day hopes to put a man into orbit. The 43-metre (140-foot) rocket is scheduled to lift off just before 5:30 pm (1200 GMT) from the southern island of Sriharikota, one of two sites used by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch satellites. / AFP PHOTO / ARUN SANKAR

New Delhi: Soon after India launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-19 with its brand new and heaviest rocket - the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on the successful launch. "My heartiest congratulations to you and the entire team at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on the historic launch of the indigenous Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) carrying GSAT-19 satellite to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)," said Mukherjee in a message to ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar. Modi took to twitter to congratulate the scientists. "The GSLV - MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission takes India closer to the next generation launch vehicle and satellite capability. The nation is proud!

Congratulations to the dedicated scientists of ISRO for the successful launch of GSLV – MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2017

"Congratulations to the dedicated scientists of ISRO for the successful launch of GSLV - MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission," he said.

The GSLV – MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission takes India closer to the next generation launch vehicle and satellite capability. The nation is proud! — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2017

The GSLV-Mk III rocket, on its maiden flight, began its ascent towards space from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at the Sriharikota spaceport from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. (With agency inputs)