Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission took off in the fourth operational mission (M4) of the LVM3 launcher.
LVM3 is the operational heavy lift launch vehicle of ISRO and has a spectacular pedigree of completing 6 consecutive successful missions. LVM3 is the new heavy lift launch vehicle of ISRO for achieving a 4000 kg spacecraft launching capability to GTO in a cost-effective manner.
LVM3 has proved its versatility to undertake most complex missions like:
~ Injecting multi-satellites
~ Mission planning to ensure safe relative distance among separated satellites through re-orientation and velocity addition maneuvers.
~ Multi orbit (LEO, MEO, GEO) and execute interplanetary missions.
~ India’s largest and heaviest launch vehicle ferrying Indian and international customer satellites.
“The mission is significant as the GSLV MK III, that weighs equivalent to the weight of five fully-loaded Boeing Jumbo Jets or as much as 200 fully grown elephants, is the heaviest rocket to be launched from our own soil,” reports The ET news.
Till now, ISRO had to depend on foreign launchers for communication satellites weighing more than 2,300 kg.
Specifications about LVM3
As per ISRO, LVM3 is configured as a three-stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors (S200), one liquid core stage (L110) and a high-thrust cryogenic upper stage (C25). The S200 solid motor is among the largest solid boosters in the world with 204 tonnes of solid propellant.
The liquid L110 stage uses a twin liquid engine configuration with 115 tonnes of liquid propellant, while the C25 Cryogenic upper stage is configured with the fully indigenous high thrust cryogenic engine (CE20) with a propellant loading of 28 tons. The overall length of the vehicle is 43.5 m with a gross lift-off weight of 640 tonnes and a 5m-diameter payload fairing.
The Encapsulated assembly (EA) comprises the spacecraft, Payload Adaptor (PLA), and the Payload fairing (PF). With a lift-off mass of 640 tons, this 43.5 m tall three-stage launch vehicle gives ISRO full self-reliance in launching heavier communication satellites that weigh up to 4000 kg in GTO.
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