India launches its biggest rocket

India on Thursday in Andhar Pradesh's Sriharikota city successfully launched its heaviest rocket yet and tested an unmanned crew module in a step towards its manned space mission in twin achievements that gave a big push to its space prowess. As India got a giant new satellite launch vehicle that opened more commercial opportunities, the crew module--CARE (Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment)--splashed down into the Bay of Bengal after it separated from the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mark-III). The successful test of the atmospheric re-entry of the 3.65 tonne unmanned capsule came around 730 seconds after the three-tonne rocket on its experimental mission lifted off at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. While the rocket cost ISRO Rs 140 crore, the crew module has taken another Rs 15 crore, officials said. Three levels of parachutes specially designed by Agra-based DRDO lab Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment helped the crew module descend safely into the sea, about 180 km from Indira Point, the southern tip of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. "This was a very significant day in the history of Indian space programme," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K S Radhakrishnan said from mission control, as fellow scientists clapped and broke into a round of cheers. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among other leaders who congratulated the ISRO scientists for the feat that will help carry heavier communication satellites. "Successful launch of GSLV Mk-III is yet another triumph of brilliance