QUE : Give information about the various launch vehicles prepared by ISRO and explain the features and advantages of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) currently being prepared by it.

The launch vehicles prepared by ISRO include Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV), Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

•  SLV:
  

 It was India’s first experimental launch vehicle. It was a four-stage vehicle in which all the four stages were solid fuel. Its payload capacity was 40 kg for low earth orbit.

•  ASLV:
  
  It was a five-stage vehicle in which all the stages were solid fuel. It was capable of carrying a payload of 150 kg to an altitude of 400 km.
  
•  PSLV:
  

• India’s most successful launch vehicle. It now has many variants, but in its original form is a four-stage vehicle.
  
• First stage – solid fuel, second stage-liquid fuel, third stage – solid fuel, fourth stage-liquid fuel.
  
•  GSLV:
  
• India’s largest and most capable launch vehicle
  
•  Three stages:
  
  1) Solid fuel,
  
  2) Liquid fuel,
  
  3) Liquid fuel-(India’s first cryogenic engine)

• Its payload capacity: Low Earth Orbit 5000 kg, Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit- 2500 kg.
  
• Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

• Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is being designed to meet the needs of launch on demand.

• It has three stages. All stages use solid fuel.

• The height of this vehicle is – 34 m.

• Its lift off mass – 120 tons capacity: Sun synchronous orbit: 300 kg

• Advantages of SSLV

• Launch on demand: Currently ISRO’s satellite launch capacity is low, but SSLV can help it provide launch on demand capability.

• Launch cost per kilogram can be reduced for launching satellites.

• Reduces turn around time. (Turn around time: Time to return to the launch pad for a new launch within a short time of a successful take-off)

• Helps in increasing production capacity and rate

• Minimum infrastructure requirement during launch

• Provides flexibility to carry different types and more than one satellite at a time.

ISRO has given India an important place in the global satellite launching market and is still developing small satellite launch vehicles to increase India’s share in this market.