LVM3(Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III)
Vehicle Specifications
| Height | : 43.5 m |
| Vehicle Diameter | : 4.0 m |
| Heat Shield (Payload Fairing) Diameter | : 5.0 m |
| Number of Stages | : 3 |
| Lift Off Mass | : 640 tonnes |
Technical Specification
Payload to GTO: 4,000 kg
LVM3 will be capable of placing the 4 tonne class satellites of the GSAT series into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits.
Payload to LEO (Low Earth Orbit) : 8,000 kg
The powerful cryogenic stage of LVM3 enables it to place heavy payloads into Low Earth Orbits of 600 km altitude.
Cryogenic Upper Stage : C25
The C25 is powered by CE-20, India's largest cryogenic engine, designed and developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
| Cryo Stage Height | : 13.5 m |
| Cryo Stage Diameter | : 4.0 m |
| Engine | : CE-20 |
| Fuel | : 28 tonnes of LOX + LH2 |
Solid Rocket Boosters : S200
LVM3 uses two S200 solid rocket boosters to provide the huge amount of thrust required for lift off. The S200 was developed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
| Booster Height | : 25 m |
| Booster Diameter | : 3.2 m |
| Fuel | : 205 tonnes of HTPB (nominal) |
Core Stage : L110 Liquid Stage
The L110 liquid stage is powered by two Vikas engines designed and developed at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
| Stage Height | : 21 m |
| Stage Diameter | : 4 m |
| Engine | : 2 x Vikas |
| Fuel | : 115 tonnes of UDMH + H2O |
About the Launch Vehicle
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. .
LVM3 is the new heavy lift launch vehicle of ISRO for achieving a 4000 kg spacecraft launching capability to GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) in a cost effective manner. LVM3 is a three stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons and core stages comprising of L110 liquid stage, C25 cryogenic stage, the equipment bay (EB) and the Encapsulated assembly (EA). EA comprises of 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. The vehicle takes off with the simultaneous ignition of the two S200 boosters. The core stage (L110) is ignited at about 113s through the flight, during the firing of the S200 stages. Both S200 motors burn for about 134s and the separation occur at 137s. The payload fairing is separated at an altitude of 115 km and at about 217s during L110 firing. The L110 burnout and separation and C25 ignition occur at 313s. The spacecraft is injected into a GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) orbit of 180x36000 km at a nominal time of 974s.
