PM congratulates ISRO on rocket launch

New Delhi, Jan 5: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of the Indian GSLV D5 rocket carrying a communication satellite.

"Prime Minister congratulates the scientists and engineers of ISRO for the successful launch of GSLV D5 carrying GSAT-14 payload," the prime minister’s office tweeted.

"It is yet another important step that the country has taken in the area of science and technology," the tweet further said.

The rocket successfully lifted off from the Sriharikota spaceport Sunday afternoon.

The Rs.365 crore launch mission has a twin purpose — to flight-test the cryogenic engine designed and built by the ISRO, and to put in orbit the GSAT-14 communication satellite.