Chennai, Feb 9 : Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K. Radhakrishnan has said the flight- testing of the indigenous cryogenic stage of the GSLV D3 would be conducted in April.

Talking to reporters after receiving the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) at the fifth convocation of SRM University here, Radhakrishnan said: The vehicle would carry GAST-4, a communication satellite. Though we had several GSLV flights, we were using the Russian cryogenic stages."

"As far as cryogenic engine and stages were concerned, ISRO had tested engines for 7,500 seconds," he added.

The country's first unmanned lunar mission, Chandrayaan, was launched in late October, 2008.

The second unmanned project, Chandrayaan-II, will be launched in the first quarter of 2013 - a prelude to the manned space mission.

India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space research and space missions.