The launch of the vehicle was slated for Thursday at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Indian Space Reserch Organisation (ISRO) chief Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan told reporters.

"The payload is the GSAT2 which is a 1,825-kilogramme satellite. There is an improvement of 300 kilogrammes from the earlier satellite of the first developmental flight of GSLV (on April 2001)," Kasturirangan said.

"As of now the vehicle has been completely assembled at the launch pad and has been fully tested. Yesterday a full dress rehearsal of the vehicle was carried out," Kasturirangan said.

India is eyeing the lucrative satellite launch vehicle market and in September last year successfully launched a polar satellite launch vehicle capable of launching a 1,000-1,200 kilogramme unit.

"The world is looking at the current version of GSLV and there will be five to six global launches in the 2,000-kilogramme category in the current year. If that comes through (to ISRO), we can offer attractive prices which are negotiable," Kasturirangan said.

GSAT2 will carry seven transponders and four piggyback experimental payloads including a solar X-ray spectrometer and a Coherent Radio Beacon Experiment to investigate the ionosphere.

Kasturirangan said ISRO had 120 transponders offering satellite communication support to various Indian state-owned and private firms, and within three years the agency would be able to bridge the gap in demand.

"About 70 transponders provide services outside the country. After the launch of INSAT 4A and 4B next year... in three years we will close the gap," he said.

The cryogenic engine to be used in the Thursday's GSLV D2 launch has been procured from Russia and Kasturirangan said India was developing its own version.

"The aim is to use (India's own engine) during the launch of third GSLV flight in 2005. The engine has gone into 'stage tests' and 'engine tests'. Stage test one tests the propellers and regulators that go into the flight," he said.

Kasturirangan said space ties with the United States, which imposed sanctions on India after its nuclear tests in 1988, were improving and India was increasingly hopeful of getting high technology US products.

Most sanctions have been lifted but some remain relating to the nuclear field.

"There has been very positive developments in establishing our linkages and relationship with the United States in space programmes. There have been several relaxations in terms of technology which we need for our space programme.

"So the current indications as far as space is concerned ... are very positive," he said.

SPACE.WIRE