LVM 3 - SCI & TECH
News: HAL gets new facilities, to
meet demand for ISRO’s LVM-3 misson
What's in the news?
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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman
S Somanath inaugurated propellant tank production and computer numerical
control (CNC) machining facilities at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL)
aerospace division.
Key takeaways:
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The new facilities will boost ISRO’s growing
production needs, especially for the Launch
Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), India’s heaviest and most powerful rocket.
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The facilities will provide a major boost to ISRO’s
ability to meet its growing production needs.
○
Currently, the existing capacity allows for only
two LVM3 launches per year, whereas ISRO’s requirements stand at six launches
annually.
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The facilities will address this gap with HAL
manufacturing enough critical components to support the demand.
LVM-3:
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LVM3 is a three-stage
vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons, a liquid propellant core stage and
a cryogenic stage.
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LVM3-M2 is the dedicated
commercial satellite mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Central
Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Space, Government of
India.
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The LVM3 is the heaviest launch vehicle of ISRO.
Developed by - Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of ISRO
Stages of LVM3:
1. First/Bottom-most
Stage:
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It has two S200 boosters strapped to the sides of
the rocket body.
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Fuel used - Solid
fuel called hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene.
2. Second Stage:
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It is powered by two Vikas engines
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Fuel used - Liquid
fuel – either nitrogen tetroxide or unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine.
3. Third/Uppermost Final
Stage:
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It is powered by a cryogenic engine.
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It combusts liquefied
hydrogen with liquefied oxygen.
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Hydrogen has a very high specific impulse as rocket
fuels go, but using it in an engine requires it to be liquefied first.
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Liquified hydrogen must be stored at very low
temperature, and with special pumping and transport systems.
Payload capacity:
● The LVM3 was conceived primarily for launching geo-stationary satellites with a payload capacity of 4T, which can be used for launching 6T payloads for LEO.