Launch vehicles of ISRO
Launch vehicles developed and operated by ISRO
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ISRO manufactures launch vehicles to execute its various space exploration goals. ISRO operates multiple launch vehicles such as the PSLV, the GSLV, the LVM3, and the SSLV.
Launch vehicles
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Status: Active
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV is the first medium-lift launch vehicle from India which enabled India to launch all its remote-sensing satellites into Sun-synchronous orbit. PSLV had a failure in its maiden launch in 1993. Besides two other partial failures, PSLV has become the primary workhorse for ISRO with more than 50 launches placing hundreds of Indian and foreign satellites into orbit.[1]
| Decade | Successful | Partial success | Failure | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2000s | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2010s | 33 | 0 | 1 | 34 |
| 2020s | 10 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| Total | 57 | 1 | 4 | 62 |
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Status: Active
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is a medium-lift launch vehicle which was envisaged in 1990s to transfer significant payloads to geostationary orbit. ISRO initially had a great problem realising GSLV as the development of CE-7.5 in India took a decade. The US had blocked India from obtaining cryogenic technology from Russia, leading India to develop its own cryogenic engines.[2]
| Decade | Successful | Partial success | Failure | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2010s | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 2020s | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 12 | 2 | 4 | 18 |
Launch Vehicle Mark-3
_of_SDSC-SHAR,_Sriharikota_(edit).jpg)
- Status: Active
The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), previously known as the GSLV Mk III, is a medium-lift launch vehicle and the heaviest rocket in operational service with ISRO. Equipped with a more powerful cryogenic engine and boosters than GSLV, it has significantly higher payload capacity and allows India to launch all its communication satellites.[3] LVM3 is expected to carry India's first crewed mission to space[4] and will be the testbed for SE-2000 engine which will power India's heavy-lift rockets in the future.[5]
| Decade | Successful | Partial success | Failure | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Status: Active
The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by the ISRO with payload capacity to deliver 500 kg (1,100 lb) to low Earth orbit (500 km (310 mi)) or 300 kg (660 lb) to Sun-synchronous orbit (500 km (310 mi)) for launching small satellites, with the capability to support multiple orbital drop-offs.[6][7][8]
| Decade | Successful | Partial success | Failure | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
In development
Next Generation Launch Vehicle
ISRO's current launch vehicles lack the capacity for launching very heavy satellites to the geostationary orbit beyond 4 ton class, a problem that is planned to be fixed with the introduction of the NGLV.[9][10] ISRO is studying heavy (HLV) and super heavy-lift launch vehicle (SHLV). Modular launchers are being designed, with interchangeable parts, to reduce production time. A 10-tonne (11-short-ton; 9.8-long-ton) capacity HLV and an SHLV capable of delivering 50–100 tonnes (55–110 short tons; 49–98 long tons) into orbit have been mentioned in statements and presentations from ISRO officials.[11][12]
Retired
Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Status: Retired
The Satellite Launch Vehicle (known as SLV-3) was the first space rocket to be developed by India. The initial launch in 1979 was a failure followed by a successful launch in 1980 making India the sixth country in world with orbital launch capability. The development of bigger rockets began afterwards.[13]
Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Status: Retired
The Augmented or Advanced Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) was another small launch vehicle released in 1980s to develop technologies required to place satellites into geostationary orbit. ISRO did not have adequate funds to develop ASLV and PSLV at once. Since ASLV suffered repeated failures, it was dropped in favour of a new project.[14]
Sounding rockets
Rohini sounding rockets
- Status: Active
Rohini is a series of sounding rockets developed by ISRO for meteorological and atmospheric study.[15] These sounding rockets are capable of carrying payloads of 2 to 200 kilograms (4.4 to 440.9 lb) between altitudes of 100 to 500 kilometres (62 to 311 mi).[16] The ISRO currently uses RH-200, RH-300, Mk-II, RH-560 Mk-II and RH-560 Mk-III rockets, which are launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thumba and the SDSC in Sriharikota.
Advanced Technology Vehicle
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- Status: Active
The Advanced Technology Vehicle is a modified Indian sounding rocket developed by ISRO.[17] It is based on the Rohini-560 sounding rocket. The ATV programme was created to test the development of a native dual-mode air-breathing scramjet engine. As of 2016[update], ISRO has flown two test missions.[18]