Senior ISRO scientist G Ayyappan took charge as the Project Director of the ambitious GSLV Mark III programme under development at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The GSLV Mark III programme is aimed at making India, the self-reliant country by developing rockets capable of launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh 4,500 to 5,000 kg. Previously he was working as the Associate Project Director of GSLV Mk III.

G Ayyappan

• A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering in Trivandrum.
• He finished his M Tech from IIT in Madras.
• He served ISRO in different capacities since 1982. He was the Vehicle Director of LVM3-X/CARE mission.
• LVM3-X/CARE mission is the first experimental flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III carried out in December last year.

GSLV Mk III

• GSLV Mk III stands for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III
• GSLV Mk III is intended to launch satellites into geostationary orbit and as a launcher for an Indian crew vehicle.
• The GSLV-III features an Indian cryogenic third stage and a higher payload capacity than the current GSLV.
• The first orbital flight is planned to take place in 2017.
•  The first flight with a crew on board would take place after 2020.