Chennai: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed the first test flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mk III (GSLV Mk III) to space this year owing to Covid-19 pandemic.
While most of the design and documentation activities have been completed for the rocket, owing to the spread of coronavirus infection and the lockdowns across the countries, vendors are working at a lower capacity or closed which in turn has impacted the supply of components, said a top official of the ISRO.
The first human-rated unmanned GSLV-Mk III, the first of the two test flights, was scheduled to fly by the end of 2021.
Taking the flight results another unmanned rocket would fly while the third rocket will carry the Indian astronauts.
According to the official, the static tests of the rocket’s solid-fuel motor are slated this September and liquid fuel engines will also be tested.
Meanwhile, the four Indian astronauts returned to India this March after completing their training in Russia and will undergo different space mission-specific training in the country.
