Launch Vehicles for Satellites & Space Probes
- Launch Vehicles are used to transport and put satellites & space probes into space
- Satellites Orbits Height Classification to under different types of launch vehicles
Lower earth orbit | 180 km – 2000 km | Sun synchronous orbit, Polar Orbit |
Mid earth orbit | 2000 km – 35780 km | GPS & Navigation |
High earth orbit | > 35780 km | Geostationary orbit |
- The first Indian experimental Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) was developed in 1980
- An Augmented version of this, ASLV, was launched successfully in 1992
India has made tremendous progress in launch vehicle technology & has achieved self-reliance in satellite launch vehicle programme with the operationalisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
[clear]Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV)
- The Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) project was born out of the need for achieving indigenous satellite launch capability
- SLV3, India’s first experimental launch vehicle, was capable of placing 40 kg class payloads in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- It was a four-stage rocket with all solid-propellant motors – weighing 17 tonnes with a height of 22 m
- The launch on July 18, 1980 from Sriharikota Range, successfully placed Rohini satellite, into the orbit, thereby making India the sixth member of an exclusive club of space-faring
The successful culmination of the SLV-3 project showed the way to advanced launch vehicle projects such as the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
[clear]Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV)
- The Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) Programme was designed to augment the payload capacity to 150 kg, thrice that of SLV-3, for Low Earth Orbits (LEO).
- With a lift off weight of 40 tonnes, the 23.8 m tall ASLV was configured as a five stage, all-solid propellant vehicle to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
- PSLV is capable of launching 1750 kg satellites in sun-synchronous polar orbit and 1425 kg satellite in geo-synchronous transfer orbit.
- It measures 44.4 m tall, with a lift off weight of 320 tonnes & known as the Workhorse of ISRO
- PSLV has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately
- PSLV has proved its multi-payload, multi-mission capability in a single launch and its geosynchronous launch capability
- Launched Missions → Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment, IRNSS, Astrosat
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
- The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) was primarily developed to launch INSAT class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits.
- Presently GSLV is being used for launching GSAT series of satellites.
- GSLV is capable of placing 2 ton class of satellites viz. INSAT and GSAT into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)
- Payload to LEO is 5,000 kg & Payload to GTO is 2500 kg
- GSLV is a 49 m tall, three stage vehicle with a lift-off mass of 415 ton.
- The first stage is solid propellant motor stage
- The second stage is liquid propellant stage
- Third one is cryogenic stage viz. uses liquid hydrogen as fuel & liquid oxygen as oxidizer
- Cryogenic rocket engine – Fuel or oxidizer (or both) is gases liquefied and stored at very low temperatures
Difference Between PSLV & GSLV
PSLV (Polar satellite launch vehicle)
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GSLV (Geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle)
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Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle MK3 (GSLV Mk 3) / LVM3
- LVM 3 is a heavy launch capability launcher being developed by ISRO
- Have Multi-mission launch capabilities, can be used to launch satellites into different orbits
- It will allow India to achieve complete self-reliance in launching satellites as –
- It will be capable of placing 4 tonne class Geosynchronous satellites into GTO
- It will be capable of placing 8 tonne class satellites into LEO
- LVM3 wll have same 3 stages as GSLV but it will have an India built cryogenic stage with higher capacity than GSLV
Difference Between GSLV & GSLV Mk3
GSLV
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GSLV – Mark 3
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LVM3-X/CARE Test Flight
- First experimental flight of LVM3, lifted off from Sriharikota on December 18, 2014
- Directed By – Human Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment (CARE)
- To check its atmospheric stability with luggage of around 4 tonne
- To study re-entry characteristics of the crew module
- Did not use cryogenic engine in test stage & carried only a passive (non-functional) cryogenic engine in upper stage
GSLV MK III with cryogenic upper stage successfully tested
- The GSLV D-6 is the second successful consecutive launch (earlier launch GSLV D-5 in January) of the GSLV series with indigenous cryogenic upper stage.
- ISRO is planning to test GSLV Mk III capable of carrying payload up to four tonne by the end of next year.
Significance of GSLV MK3
- GSLV will cost just one third of money spent on foreign agencies, which will reduce satellite launch cost as well as will save Forex
- It will enhance India’s capability to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar commercial launch market. It will help in earning foreign exchange.
- The GSLV will help ISRO put heavier communication satellites of GSAT class into orbit.
- Reduction of dependence on foreign agencies gives strategic boost in this high tech sector
Types of Launch Engines
Solid Fuel Engine
- Once fired continue to be in operation till their fuel burns off
- Can’t control its velocity or direction
Liquid Fuel Engine
- Can be shut off once the spacecraft achieves the desired velocity
- Can restart the engine several times if required, making it possible to change satellite’s orbit with precision
LAM – Liquid Apogee Motor
- A special device on liquid-fuel powered engines, which helps to move the satellite in a precise orbit
- Recently, ISRO used LAM on its Mars orbiter and on IRNSS satellites
ISRO indigenous cryogenic engine CE-20 with four-tonne capacity
- Enable scientists to put satellites of up to the capacity of four tones in geostationary orbit
- So far India’s GSLVs were being powered by cryogenic engines given by Russia
Cryogenic engine
- Generally uses Hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer stored at very low temperature
- evelop the thrust needed in the final state of the rocket to put satellites into a geosynchronous orbit
The cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system, as compared to solid liquid propellant stages, due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperature (cryo) and the associated thermal and structural challenges. A cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns.
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ISRO’s Reusable Launch vehicle
- This launch vehicle (1.5 tonne) will be mounted on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket
- At an altitude of 70 km, the model would get separated and would glide back to earth
- The descent speed would be controlled through the fins on the machine
- It will bring down costs significantly of launching satellites by one-tenth
Sakaar
- ISRO’s Augmented Reality application designed for Android devices
- It consists of 3D models of rockets (PSLV, GSLV Mk-III); videos of INSAT 3D-predicting cyclones Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) orbit insertion, launch video of MOM, Anaglyph of Mars surface.
- Augmented Reality is a live direct view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated 3D models, animations, videos etc.
- It enhances user’s current perception of reality
- AR requires three elements – Android device with back camera, AR application and AR markers
1 comment
Thank you so much…very nice compilation…very grateful to u sir..