Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Jan 5 (IANS): "Twenty years of effort and toil in developing cryogenic engine and stage has paid off. The excruciating efforts of the past three years have been realised," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan said Sunday.

He was speaking after the successful lift-off of an Indian rocket carrying communication satellite from the Sriharikota spaceport Sunday.

He said: "I am extremely happy and proud to say 'Team ISRO' has done it. The Indian cryogenic engine and stage performed as predicted and as expected for the mission, and injected GSAT-14 in its intended orbit. The mission shows the maturity of the team and the leadership."

Radhakrishnan said: "Another major achievement for GSLV programme. I would say it is an important day for Indian science and space technology."

"We have paid back all our debts to the country," he said and thanked ISRO's all current and past officials.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director S. Ramakrishnan said: "At ISRO, we used to call GSLV a naughty boy. But today, the naughty boy is a very obedient boy."