Context:
ISRO successfully demonstrated the restart capability of its Vikas liquid engine at the Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri.
Vikas (Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai) Engine:
- Hypergolic liquid-fuel rocket engines developed by ISRO.
- 1st developed in the 1970s.
- Designed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
- LPSC: Centre for design, development, and realization of liquid propulsion stages for ISRO’s Launch Vehicles.
Operating Details:
- Fuel: Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH)
- Oxidiser: Nitrogen Tetroxide (N₂O₄)
- Achieves maximum thrust of 725 kN.
- Propellant loading: 40 tonnes for PSLV and GSLV Mark I and II, 55 tonnes for LVM3.
- Powers liquid stages of ISRO’s launch vehicles.
- Improves payload capability of PSLV, GSLV, and GSLV Mk-III.
Variants of Vikas Engines:
- HTVE (High Thrust Vikas Engine): Modified engine with 800 kN thrust for GSLV.
- HPVE (High Pressure Vikas Engine): Under development for future GSLV boosters.
Throttling Tests:
- First throttling test in January 2023, achieving a 67% thrust level for 43 seconds.
- Throttling: Allows for precise control of speed and trajectory during missions.
Applications:
- Important role in India’s Gaganyaan mission, the first manned space initiative.
- High-thrust variant successfully tested for resilience under extreme conditions.
- ISRO flagged off the L110 core liquid stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle for commercial operations.
- Part of a commercial agreement to launch the BlueBird Block-2 satellite.
- Establishes ISRO’s role in global space commerce.
Read in detail about PSLV and GSLV here
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 only
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is not correct:
Satellites launched by GSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
Statement 3 is not correct:
PSLV is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
GSLV Mk III is a three-staged launch vehicle with 1st stage using solid rocket motor, 2nd stage using liquid fuel and 3rd stage using cryogenic engine.
