The Indian Space Research Organization, or ISRO, is the Indian governmental agency responsible for spaceflight. ISRO currently operates two space launch systems, the PSLV and the GSLV. Both rocket families remain competitive in the international satellite launch market. ISRO also overseas several satellite programs, including the Indian National Satellites (INSAT) communication satellites, and Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites for Earth resource monitoring.
India plans to move forward with several ambitious space development goals, including larger rockets and a human spaceflight capability.
Left to right: SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV, PSLV-CA, PSLV-XL, GSLV, Human figure for scale (1.8m tall).
SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) was a four-stage, all solid fueled, expendable launch vehicle.
An SLV-3 rocket, launched on 18 July 1980, placed the Rohini (RS-1) satellite into orbit.
The ASLV (Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle) was a five-stage, all solid fueled, expendable launch vehicle.
Test flights began in July, 1988. The third ASLV, launched on 20 May 1992, placed the SROSS-C satellite into orbit. ASLV-D4, the fourth and final ASLV to fly, placed the SROSS-C2 satellite into orbit on 4 May 1994.
The PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is an expendable launch vehicle operated by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization).
PSLV has four stages. The first and third stages use solid propellants, while the second and fourth stages are liquid fueled.
The PSLV rocket family has proved highly reliable and is still in service.
The standard PSLV configuration includes 6 strap-on boosters.
The first PSLV development flight, occurring on 20 September 1993, was unsuccessful. The second PSLV flight, on 15 October 1994, was successful.
PSLV-CA is the "Core Alone" version without any strap-on boosters.
The first PSLV-CA launch occurred on 23 April 2007.
PSLV-XL includes an improved strap-on booster.
A PSLV-XL rocket launched the Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter spacecraft on 22 October 2008.
The GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) is an expendable launch vehicle designed to put 2,000 - 2,500 kg payloads into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Developed from the successful PSLV, the GSLV adds liquid fueled strap-on boosters and a cryogenic upper stage.
The first GSLV rocket launched the GSAT-1 satellite into orbit on 18 April 2001. Unfortunately, the satellite was placed in a lower than planned orbit.
The rocket has experienced several failures in the first seven launches.
Images by Richard Kruse are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.