Indian Space Program

The PSLV (Polar Space Launch Vehicle) was developed to permit India to launch its own IRS-class satellites into sun-synchronous orbits, a service until recently procured commercially via the USSR/CIS. The design orbital capacity for the PSLV is one metric ton into a 900 km, 99 degree inclination orbit. This significant increase in lift is achieved using a 5-stage design similar to the ASLV: a 4-stagecore vehicle surrounded by six strap-on boosters of the type developed for the ASLV. At lift-off only two of the strap-ons and the bottom stage of the core vehicle are ignited. The other four boosters are fired at an altitude of 3 km.

The core vehicle possesses an unusual design consisting of two solid-propellant stages (1 and 3) and two liquid, hypergolic stages (2 and 4). The first stage also carries two cylindrical tanks which are part of the Secondary Injection Thrust Vector Control System (STIVC). The large liquid engine of the Record stage is designated Vikas and is essentially an Indian-manufactured Viking engine used by ESA's Ariane. During 1992 all four stages were certified for flight in 1993, and full vehicle integration tests were performed.

After some delays the maiden flight of the PSLV with the IRS-I E Earth observation spacecraft occurred on 20 September 1993. Although all strap-ons and main engines performed as expected, an attitude control problem arose after separation of the second and third stages. Consequently, the vehicle and its payload failed to reach Earth orbit. A little more than a year later, on 15 October 1994, the IRS-P2 spacecraft was inserted into the prescribed sun-synchronous orbit by PSLV no. 2. Almost immediately afterwards, Indian officials announced plans for the manufacture of three additional PSLVs and initial construction for three more. Commercial space transportation services could be available by 1996 .

PSLV

Background Information

First Launch:: September 1993
Flight Rate:: 1 per year
Launch Site:: Shar Launch Center (Sriharikota, India)
Capability:: 6,610 lb to 215 nm circular orbit, 43 degrees inclination; 2,200 lb ot 490 nm sun-synchronous orbit; 990 lb to Geotransfer orbit, 43 degree inclination

History

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) established in 1969 to develop space launch systems
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) developed as third generation follow-on to Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV)
Designed for delivery of 2,200 lb Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites to polar sun-syschronous orbit

Description

Four-stage vehicle
Stage 1 burns HTPB solid propellant providing 806,000 lb of thrust
Stage 2 uses one Vikas engine that burns UDMH/N2O4 providing 163,000 lb of thrust
Stage 3 burns HTPB solid propellant providing 73,900 lb of thrust
Stage 4 uses two liquid rocket engines that burn MMH/N2O4 providing 1,700 lb of thrust each
Six solid strap-ons burn HTPB solid propellant providing 98,900 lb of thrust each (two are air lit)

Profile

Length:: 145.1 ft
Launch Weight:: 606,000 lb
Diameter: 9.2 ft
Liftoff Thrust:: 1,200,000 lb
Payload Fairing:: 27.2 ft x 10.5 ft