NEW DELHI – India successfully launched an unmanned crew capsule on its heaviest rocket – the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk. 3, during its first experimental flight Dec. 18, bringing the country a step closer to fulfilling its human spaceflight ambitions.

NEW DELHI—The future of cash-strapped Indian private carrier SpiceJet appears bleak as lenders show reluctance, despite requests from the government, to provide short-term working-capital loans of up to 6 billion rupees ($94.2 million). Notwithstanding relief measures announced by the government, the beleaguered airline was forced to ground its entire fleet on Dec. 17 for over 10 hours, after oil-marketing companies refused to refuel SpiceJet’s aircraft due to non-payment of dues.

NEW DELHI — India’s first experimental flight of its latest Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk. 3) with a Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) will take place on Dec. 18. The 24.5-hr. countdown for the mission began at 9 a.m. local time on Dec. 17. The lesser duration of the countdown for the mission is due to the dummy cryogenic stage.