ISRO to develop reusable GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working on technologies in order to develop reusable GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle.

Key Points

• This new technology will help ISRO to land its GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles vertically.
• It will be similar to what Elon Musk’s SpaceX is doing.
• With this technology, ISRO also seeks to recover the first and second stages of the launch vehicle.
• Development of reusable GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle will help ISRO is saving money as well.

How reusable vehicle is being developed?

To develop reusable GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle, a “wholesale change or augmentation” has been made. One of the ways of bringing change is that, vehicle would have to rework its three stages. Second liquid stage will be replaced with a semi-cryo stage, while the terminal cryo stage C-25, will be converted into C-32. Apart from this, inert mass for the terminal stage will be optimised.

About GSLV Mk-III

This launch vehicle, chosen as launch vehicle for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle. It was developed by ISRO. It comprises of two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster as well as a cryogenic upper stage. It was designed to carry 4-tons of satellites into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) as well as10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). First developmental flight of GSLV Mk III called GSLV-Mk III-D1 had successfully placed GSAT-19 satellite in to the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on June 05, 2017.GSLV MkIII-M1 had successfully placed the Chandrayaan-2 in to Earth Parking Orbit on July 22, 2019.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2021