52. The Indian Space Launch Program

Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai initiated the Space Program in India in the 1960s, to utilise the potential of space technology and its applications for national development. With the launch of sounding rocket from the shore of Thumba located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram on November 21, 1963 India entered into the space arena. Since then in the last four and half decades, India has made considerable progress in the development of Space Launch Vehicles. The first development of Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3) was initiated in the early 1970s, and in the span of 10 years, it was successfully flown in July 1980 by placing a 40 kg satellite into orbit. This effort helped to understand the intricacies of launch vehicle technologies. Further technology developments in the areas of strap-on booster, bulbous payload fairing, canted nozzles, closed-loop guidance, and overall mission management were mastered in the next development vehicle, Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) with payload capability of 150 kg. Parallely efforts were on to develop Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching of operational remote sensing satellites into Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). PSLV provided a quantum jump in the development of several critical technologies like large solid motor, earth-storable liquid engines, composite motor case, strapdown navigation system, etc. This vehicle has multi-mission capability with missions such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), and Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO).and also has provision to carry multiple satellites. During the same period ISRO initiated the development of Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with three stages, employing solid, liquid, and cryogenic propulsion modules for launching 2t class of operational communication satellites into GTO. Initially a procured cryogenic stage from Russia was used for the upper stage. At the same time, the technology developments needed for cryo-engine and stage systems were undertaken. The engine was successfully qualified through a series of ground tests, short and long duration at different levels. The cryo-stage is flight tested successfully in January 2014. For launching 4 t class of communication spacecraft the development of GSLV Mk-3 was initiated. It is a three-stage vehicle consisting of a large solid propellant booster, liquid stage with clustered engines, a high thrust cryo-engine operating in gas generator cycle, and lightweight composite structures. One of the important missions accomplished in the recent past is the launch and recovery of a Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE). This mission enabled to master the re-entry technologies and recovery procedures required for the design of future.