GSLV-Mk III mock-up vehicle The Indian Space Organisation(ISRO) will flight-test the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mar...
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GSLV-Mk III mock-up vehicle |
The Indian Space Organisation(ISRO) will flight-test the Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), its heaviest rocket so far, on an
experimental flight next year.
The first experimental flight with passive
cryogenic stage (GSLV-MkIII-X flight) is targeted in the last quarter of
2013.
GSLV-MkIII is a three stage
heavy lift launch vehicle, designed for launching four tonne class of
communication satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It has
three propulsion stages and is 42.4 m tall with a lift-off weight of 630
tonnes.
Two identical large solid strap-on boosters (S200) with 200 tonnes of solid propellant are strapped on either side of the core stage (L110) with 110 tonnes of liquid propellant loading. The upper stage is the cryogenic stage (C25) with 27 tonnes propellant loading. Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) payload fairing measures 5 m in diameter which can accommodate a payload volume of 100 cu m.
Two identical large solid strap-on boosters (S200) with 200 tonnes of solid propellant are strapped on either side of the core stage (L110) with 110 tonnes of liquid propellant loading. The upper stage is the cryogenic stage (C25) with 27 tonnes propellant loading. Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) payload fairing measures 5 m in diameter which can accommodate a payload volume of 100 cu m.
The major development and qualification tests
conducted during the year include Ground Resonance Test of the ‘Core
Alone’ Configuration, structural tests of Equipment Bay, Fore Stub
Adapter, Payload Adapter, Inter Stage 1/2L, Inter Stage 1/2M, C25 Thrust
frame, Acoustic test of Heat Shield and Equipment Bay (EB) subassembly,
Vibration test of proto EB, System level functional separation tests of
S200 forward and aft end joint, L-110 propellant mock-up at launch
complex, Qualification test of control actuators for all stages,
Demonstration of acoustic suppression system for the launch pad and full
vehicle integration trial.
Considering the complexity of the vehicle design
and also the maturity and readiness of S-200 and L-110 propulsive
stages, it is planned to have an experimental flight of GSLV-MkIII with
passive cryogenic stage (C25) to characterise the ascent of the vehicle
during the critical atmospheric phase of flight.
Towards this mission, all six segments of two S200 flight motor
have been cast and are stored in magazines. All flight hardware of L-110
is positioned at LPSC, Mahendragiri and flight stage integration is in
progress. For passive C25 stage, propellant tanks for the flight stage
have been realised and stage integration activities have been initiated.
