GSLV Mark I

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle

Mission Profile

The GSLV Mark I (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) was a three-stage Indian launch vehicle in the LVM family, designed to give India independent geostationary orbit access using a cryogenic upper stage. Standing 49.1 m tall with a 2.8 m core diameter and a liftoff mass of 402 tonnes, it generated 6,680 kN of liftoff thrust and could deliver 5,000 kg to low Earth orbit. First flying in April 2001, the GSLV Mark I initially used a Russian-supplied KVD-1 cryogenic upper stage, with early flights achieving mixed results as India developed its indigenous cryogenic technology.