GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) is a launch vehicle designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. It is designed to launch 1800kg payloads into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) or 5500kg into low earth orbit.
GSLV began development launches in 2001, with the first successful launch in 2003. The first operational launch in 2004 was successful, but the second operational launch in July 2006 failed when the first stage deviated from it's flight path 55 seconds into the launch. Failure was attributed to a failure of one of the first stage strap-on boosters. It broke up at 62 seconds into the launch over the Bay of Bengal.
Launch Profiles
GSLV launch vehicles are designed to place payloads into a GTO elliptical (180km x 36,000km) orbit. From this orbit, geosynchronous satellites can execute a Hohmann-Transfer maneuver to reach their geosynchronous parking location.
Launch Vehicle Configuration
The GSLV is a three stage launch vehicle with a lift weight of 414 metric tonnes. It stands 49m tall, and employs both solid and liquid fueled technology. The stages are:
Stage 1 - A 138 tonne S139 HTPB (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) based solid fuel booster with four liquid fueled L40H strap-on motors. The L40H motors are fueled with UH25 (75% unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and 25% hydrazine) plus N2O4 (nitrogen-tetroxide). The first stage produces a total thrust of 7796 kN (kilo-Newtons) over a total burn time of up to 160 seconds.
Stage 2 - a 39.3 tonne UH25 and N2O4 liquid-fueled motor. The second stage produces 804 kN of thrust over a burn time of up to 150 seconds.
Stage 3 - a Russian built GS3 cryogenic rocket fueled with 12.6 tonne LH2/LOX (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen). It produces a nominal thrust of 73.5 kN and can burn up to 720 seconds.
Launch Location
GSLV launches take place at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Sriharikota, about 100 km north of Chennai on India's eastern coast.
For more information:
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (Wikipedia)
- GSLV-F02 Failure Analysis
Author(s): Emileigh Starbrook (unknown date prior to 2007 December 31)
