LAUNCH VEHICLE MARK-III (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Experts assert that the commercialisation of LVM3 marks a significant advancement for India, arriving at an opportune

Launch Vehicle Mark-III

• About: It is ISRO’s most powerful rocket so far. It can carry up to 4-tonne satellites into the geostationary orbit and up to 8-tonne satellites into the lower earth orbits.

o It was used in the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 lunar missions.

• Previously called: GSLV-MkIII
• Stages: 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).
• Height: 43.5 m
• Lift Off Mass: 640 tonnes
• Payload to GTO: 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

o The powerful cryogenic stage of LVM3 enables it to place heavy payloads into Low Earth Orbits of 600 km altitude.

• Some of the LVM 3 Missions

o GSAT-29 Mission

o GSAT-19 Mission

o CARE Mission

o OneWeb India-2 Mission

o OneWeb India-1 Mission

o Chandrayaan-2 Mission & Chandrayaan-3 Mission moment.