Halving the cost of satellite launches is the goal for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) new heavy-lift geosynchronous launch vehicle Mk-III (GSLV-Mk III).

ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying that the GSLV-Mk III will bring down the satellite launch cost by at least half of the present $20,000 per kg.

GSLV-Mk III can launch satellites of four-tonne class and is expected to be operational within the next two to three years.

The country also plans to increase the number of spacecraft launches in 2010, according to Radhakrishnan.