The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its heaviest rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III). Space officials on Sunday said that the rocket would be capable of taking humans into space.

The first-ever developmental flight of the launch vehicle is scheduled for Monday evening. However, the 25-and-a-half hour countdown would begin on Sunday afternoon, "starting at 3:58 p.m. local time (1028 GMT)," according to an ISRO statement.

The vehicle will be launched from the ISRO headquarters in Sriharikotta of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

"The most powerful ever rocket developed by the ISRO, will lift off the communication satellite GSAT-19 to a geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO) in space, after its ignition at 5:28 p.m. local time (1158 GMT) on Monday," an official said.

Reports said if the launch succeeds ISRO plans to seek financial assistance from the federal government to station Indians in space. It remains unconfirmed whether or not India will look to conduct manned space missions in future.

Undated photo of the rocket. (ISRO)