By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI

 India launched its heaviest rocket on Monday, the country’s space agency said.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) was launched with a communications satellite from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement.

The 640-tonne rocket will give India greater ability to send its own and other countries’ communications satellites and eventually become the fourth country to send a person into space.

“This mission is important as it is the heaviest-ever rocket and satellite to be launched from India,” ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said.

The GSLV Mark III can carry put a payload of more than three tonnes into orbit.

“Congratulations to the dedicated scientists of ISRO for the successful launch,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.