PSLV
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-stage core 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 (References 70 and 72).
In its standard configuration, the 44.4 metre tall 295 ton PSLV has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately. The first stage, carrying 138 ton of propellant, is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in the world. Six solid propellant strap-on motors, each carrying nine tonne of solid propellant, are strapped on to the core stage. The second stage carries 41 ton of liquid propellant. The third stage uses 7.6 tonne of solid propellant and the fourth has a twin-engine configuration with 2.5 ton of liquid propellant.
The 3.2 metre diameter bulbous payload fairing of PSLV protects the satellites carried onboard and it is discarded after the vehicle has cleared dense atmosphere. PSLV employs a large number of auxiliary systems for stage separation, payload fairing separation and so on. It has sophisticated systems to control the vehicle and guide it through the predetermined trajectory. The vehicle performance is monitored through telemetry and tracking.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, designed and developed PSLV. The ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) at Thiruvananthapuram developed the inertial systems for the vehicle. The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), also at Thiruvananthapuram, developed the liquid propulsion stages for the second and fourth stages of PSLV as well as reaction control systems. SDSC SHAR processed the solid motors and carried out launch operations. ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) provides telemetry, tracking and command support during PSLV’s flight.
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. (References 73-80).
Since its first successful flight in October 1994, the capability of PSLV was successively enhanced to place 1,650 kg into a 630 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. The improvement in the capability of PSLV over successive flights has been achieved through several means. They include changing the sequence of firing of the strap-on motors, increased propellant loading in the first stage motor and the strap-ons as well as the second and fourth stage liquid propellant motors, improvement in the performance of the third stage motor by optimising motor case, enhanced propellant loading and employing a composite material for the satellite mounting structure.
Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of Department of Space, undertook a number of initiatives for global marketing of space products and services. Antrix continued to expand its market base and there has been an increase in revenues during the year.
The first of the operational flight of PSLV-C series (PSLV-C1), carrying IRS-1D satellite was successfully launched from Sriharikota on September 29, 1997 and the second, PSLV-C2 on May 26, 1999. PSLV-C2 injected IRS-P4 (Oceansat-1) as well as two foreign satellites, KITSAT-3 of the Republic of Korea and TUBSAT of Germany heralding India’s entry into commercial launch vehicle market. The third flight, PSLV-C3 was successfully launched on October 22, 2001, with the Technology Experiment Satellite (TES), PROBA of Belgium and BIRD of Germany. The fourth flight, PSLV-C4, was successfully launched on September 12, 2002, injecting the 1060 kg Kalpana-1 (METSAT-1) satellite in the Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This was the first time that a PSLV had been used to put a satellite in GTO. The fifth in the series, the PSLV-C5 was successfully launched on October 17, 2003, injecting the 1360 kg IRS-P6 (Resourcesat-1) satellite in Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.
The sixth in the series, the PSLV-C6 was successfully launched on May 5, 2005 carrying IRS-P5 (Cartosat-1) as the payload. On January 10, 2007, PSLV-C7 has placed four satellites i.e., Cartosat-2, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-I), LAPAN-TUBSAT and PEHUENSAT-1 in the pre-determined orbit successfully. PSLV-C8 carrying Italian astronomical Satellite, Agile and AAM of India as payloads was successfully launched on April 23, 2007. PSLV-C9 carrying Cartosat-2A/IMS Mission and eight nano-satellites for International customers were successfully launched on April 28, 2008. On January 21, 2008, PSLV-C10 successfully launched TESCAR Satellite built by IAI, Israel.
PSLV-C11 in its fourteenth flight successfully launched Chandrayaan-1 Spacecraft carrying 11 scientific payloads on October 22, 2008. PSLV-C12 successfully launched RISAT-2 along with ANUSAT satellites on April 20, 2009. PSLV-C14 carrying Oceansat-2 along with six other nano satellites placing it in circular SSPO orbit was successfully launched on September 23, 2009. On July 12, 2010, the PSLV-C 15 in addition to Cartosat-2B carried four auxiliary satellites, namely STUDSAT built jointly by students from a Consortium of seven engineering colleges from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, two nano satellites i.e., NLS 6.1, NLS 6.2 from University of Toronto, Canada and ALSAT-2A, a micro satellite from Algerian Space Agency.
PSLV-C16 launched on April 20, 2011 carried Resourcesat-2 and 2 auxiliary satellites namely Youthsat (Indian Mini Satellite -2) and XSAR (developed by the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore). PSLV-C17 was carrying an exclusive communication satellite GSAT-12, launched successfully on July 15, 2011. PSLV-C18 launched on 12th October, 2011, carried Megha-Tropiques satellite which is an INDO-FRENCH collaborative programme. The co-passengers are SRMSAT (SRM University), JUGNU (IIT Kanpur) and VESSELSAT-1 (LUX Space, Luxembourg).
PSLV-C19 in ‘XL’ configuration successfully launched RISAT-1, India’s first indigenous Radar Imaging Satellite on April 26, 2012 from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR. The major payload in RISAT-1 is the indigenous Synthetic Aperture Radar designed for unobstructed imaging of earth’s surface. RISAT-1 was the heaviest satellite (1858 kg) till date launched by PSLV. The satellite was placed in a polar orbit of 469.83 km x 478.89 km with an inclination of 97.62 degree.
PSLV, in its 22nd flight (PSLV-C21), successfully launched French satellite SPOT- 6 and Japanese satellite PROTIERS on Sept 09, 2012. SPOT- 6 with a lift-off mass of 712 kg, is the heaviest satellite ever launched by PSLV for an international customer. SPOT-6, built by Astrium SAS, a leading European space technology company, is capable of imaging the earth with a resolution of 1.5 m. The Japanese micro-satellite PROITERES built by Osaka Institute of Technology, carried as an auxiliary payload, had a lift-off mass of 15 kg and was intended to study the powered flight of a small satellite by an electric thruster and observe Kansai district in Japan with a high resolution camera.
On February 25, 2013, PSLV-C20, the 23rd flight of PSLV, successsfully launched six foreign satellites into orbit alongwith the Indo-French satellite SARAL. So far, PSLV had launched 35 satellites for international customers and has established ISRO as a major player in the satellite launching business. Commercial launch contracts have also been signed for launching satellites from Canada, Germany and Indonesia onboard PSLV. Discussions are also on with many prospective customers for satellite launches by PSLV in the future.
PSLV-C21 mission, the 100th mission of ISRO, was successfully realised on September 09, 2012 from the FLP at SDSC SHAR. SPOT-6 satellite was precisely injected into an orbit of 648.6 km x 655.5 km at an inclination of 98.29 degree. This was also the twenty first successive successful mission of PSLV, which used its Core Alone (PSLV-CA) variant. This was a dedicated commercial mission with two foreign spacecraft, namely, SPOT-6 (France) and PROITERES (Japan) on-board. SPOT-6 (712 kg) is the heaviest commercial satellite launched by PSLV so far. This mission also successfully flight-tested mini RESINS (Redundant Strap-down Inertial Navigation System), RGP (Rate Gyro package)-Digital and MEMS-RGP (Micro Electro Mechanical System- Rate Gyro Package) in piggyback mode.
India launched 104 satellites on one rocket 15-February-2017 and successfully put them all into orbit. The rocket (PSLV-C37) lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on 15 February 2017. It put the satellites in orbit at 28 locations before reaching an altitude of 524 kilometers about half an hour after launch. The rocket's load included an Indian observation satellite weighing more than 700 kilograms and nanosatellites launched at the request of the US, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates. The head of the Indian Space Research Organization, Kiran Kumar, stressed advances in the country's space technology and expressed eagerness to join the world market in the commercial launch business. India has been developing space launch technology at lower cost than Japan, Europe or the US. Its launch fees are said to be about 20 percent lower than average.
ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C38 successfully launched the 712 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite 23-June-2017 along with 30 co-passenger satellites today from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the thirty ninth consecutively successful mission of PSLV. The forty first flight of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C39), conducted August 31, 2017 evening from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, was unsuccessful. PSLV-C39 had a normal lift-off at 1900 hrs IST (7:00 pm) and all the flight events took place exactly as planned, except heat shield separation. This resulted in satellite separation occurring within the heat shield. The satellite is inside the heat shield resulting in the unsuccessful mission. Detailed analysis is under progress to identify the cause of the anomaly in the heat shield separation event.
PSLV has emerged as a versatile launch vehicle to carry out Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and low inclination Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions. With the recent successful launch of PSLV-C41 on 12th April, 2018, PSLV has completed three developmental and forty three operational flights and the last forty one flights have been successful. PSLV has established itself as a workhorse vehicle for national satellites with a production capacity that would enable responding fast to commercial launch opportunities also.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Continuation Programme (Phase 6) 06 June 2018 and funding of thirty PSLV operational flights under the Programme. The Programme will also meet the launch requirement of satellites for Earth observation, Navigation and Space Sciences. This will also ensure the continuity of production in Indian industry. The total fund requirement is Rs. 6131.00 Crores and includes the cost of thirty PSLV vehicles, essential facility augmentation, Programme Management and Launch Campaign.
The operationalisation of PSLV has made the country self-reliant in the launching capability of satellites for earth observation, disaster management, navigation and space sciences. The PSLV Continuation programme will sustain this capability and self-reliance in the launching of similar satellites for national requirements.
The PSLV Continuation Programme – Phase 6 will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to eight launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry. All the operational flights would be completed during the period 2019-2024. The Programme will also meet the launch requirement of satellites for Earth observation, Navigation and Space Sciences. This will also ensure the continuity of production in Indian industry. PSLV Continuation Programme was initially sanctioned in 2008, and four phases have been completed and the fifth phase is expected to be completed by Q2 of 2019-20. The Phase 6 approval will cater to the launch of satellite missions during the period Q3 of 2019-20 to Q1 of 2023-24.
PSLV | |
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Background Information
History
Description
Profile
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PSLV Variants | |||
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| Variant | Core Alone (without strap-ons) | Standard Configuration | XL (larger strap-ons) |
| HEIGHT | 44 m | 44 m | 44 m |
| LIFT-OFF WEIGHT | 230 t | 295 t | 320 t |
| PROPULSION | Solid & Liquid | Solid & Liquid | Solid & Liquid |
| PAYLOAD CAPABILITY | 1050 kg to 630 km Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit | 1600 kg to 630 km Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit 1050 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit 3500 kg to 400 km Low Earth Orbit | 1750 kg to 630 km Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit 1100 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit 3700 kg to 400 km Low Earth Orbit |
| SERVICE PERIOD | 2007... | 1993... | 2008... |
| PSLV-C39 | IRNSS-1H | Aug 31, 2017 | FAILED |
| PSLV-C38 | Cartosat-2 | Jun 23, 2017 | successful |
| PSLV-C37 | Cartosat-2 | Feb 15, 2017 | successful |
| PSLV-C36 | RESOURCESAT-2A | Dec 07, 2016 | successful |
| PSLV-C35 | SCATSAT-1 | Sep 26, 2016 | successful |
| PSLV-C34 | CARTOSAT-2 | Jun 22, 2016 | successful |
| PSLV-C33 | IRNSS-1G | Apr 28, 2016 | successful |
| PSLV-C32 | IRNSS-1F | Mar 10, 2016 | successful |
| PSLV-C31 | IRNSS-1E | Jan 20, 2016 | successful |
| PSLV-C29 | TeLEOS-1 | Dec 16, 2015 | successful |
| PSLV-C30 | AstroSat | Sep 28, 2015 | successful |
| PSLV-C28 | DMC3 | Jul 10, 2015 | successful |
| PSLV-C27 | IRNSS-1D | Mar 28, 2015 | successful |
| PSLV-C26 | IRNSS-1C | Oct 16, 2014 | successful |
| PSLV-C23 | SPOT-7, AISAT, NLS7.1 and NLS7.2, VELOX-1 | Jun 30, 2014 | successful |
| PSLV-C24 | IRNSS-1B | Apr 04, 2014 | successful |
| PSLV-C25 | Mars Orbiter | Nov 05, 2013 | successful |
| PSLV-C22 | IRNSS-1A | July 01, 2013 | Successful |
| PSLV-C20 | SARAL and six commercial payloads | February 25, 2013 | Successful |
| PSLV-C21 | SPOT 6 and PROITERES | September 09, 2012 | Successful |
| PSLV-C19 | RISAT-1 | April 26, 2012 | Successful |
| PSLV-C18 | Megha-Tropiques, SRMSat, VesselSat-1 and Jugnu | October 12, 2011 | Successful |
| PSLV-C17 | GSAT - 12 | July 15, 2011 | Successful |
| PSLV-C16 | RESOURCESAT - 2, YOUTHSAT and X-SAT | April 20, 2011 | Successful |
| PSLV-C15 | CARTOSAT-2B, ALSAT-2A, NLS 6.1 & 6.2 and STUDSAT | July 12, 2010 | Successful |
| PSLV-C14 | Oceansat - 2 and Six Nanosatellites | September 23, 2009 | Successful |
| PSLV-C12 | RISAT-2 and ANUSAT | April 20, 2009 | Successfully |
| PSLV-C11 | CHANDRAYAAN-I, | October 22, 2008 | Successful |
| PSLV-C9 | CARTOSAT-2A, IMS-1 and Eight nano-satellites | April 28, 2008 | Successful |
| PSLV-C10 | TECSAR | January 23, 2008 | Successful |
| PSLV-C8 | AGILE | April 23, 2007 | Successful |
| PSLV-C7 | CARTOSAT-2, SRE-1, LAPAN-TUBSAT and PEHUENSAT-1 | January 10, 2007 | Successful |
| PSLV-C6 | CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT | May 5, 2005 | Successful |
| PSLV-C5 | RESOURCESAT-1 and IRS-P6 | October 17, 2003 | Successful |
| PSLV-C4 | KALPANA-1 and >METSAT | September 12, 2002 | Successful |
| PSLV-C3 | TES | October 22, 2001 | Successful |
| PSLV-C2 | OCEANSAT, IRS-P4, KITSAT-3 and DLR-TUBSAT | May 26, 1999 | Successful |
| PSLV-C1 | IRS-1D | September 29, 1997 | Successful |
| PSLV-D3 | IRS-P3 | March 21, 1996 | Successful |
| PSLV-D2 | IRS-P2 | October 15, 1994 | Successful |
| PSLV-D1 | IRS-1E | September 20, 1993 | Unsuccessful |
References
- 70. Annual Report, ISRO Headquarters, Department of Space, Government of India, 1989 and previous years.
- 71. "Indian Launch Vehicle Accident Inquiry Focuses on Initial Stage Burn Sequence", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 24 October 1988, p. 47.
- 72. H.P. Mama, "India's Rocket Propellant Developments", Spaceflight , January 1995, p. 32. 73. Press release, Indian Space Research Organization, Department of Space, PPR:D:65:93, 22 September 1993.
- 74. A. Lawler and V. Raghuvanshi, "India's Rocket Effort Falters", Space News, 27 September - 3 October 1993, pp.1, 28.
- 75. S. Verma, 'Software Error Blamed for Crash of Indian Rocket", ~1, New Delhi, 3 January 1994.
- 76. C. Covault, "India Launches New Booster", Aviation Week and Space Technolony, 24 October 1994, p. 24.>
- 77. V. Raghuvanshi, "India Sets Sights on Launch Market as PSLV Flight Succeeds", October 1994, p. 9.
- 78. All-lndia Radio, New Delhi, 29 October 1994.
- 79. All-lndia Doordarshan Television, New Delhi, 7 December 1994.
- 80. C. Lardier and V. Raghuvanshi, "Le PSLV Interesse Les Militaires Indiens", Air & Cosmos, 28 October1994, p. 35.
- Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]
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