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GSLV Mk III

About the Launch Vehicle

GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.

GSLV Mk III is designed to carry 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of GSLV Mk II.

The two strap-on motors of GSLV Mk III are located on either side of its core liquid booster. Designated as ‘S200’, each carries 205 tons of composite solid propellant and their ignition results in vehicle lift -off . S200s function for 140 seconds. During strap-ons functioning phase, the two clustered Vikas liquid Engines of L110 liquid core booster will ignite 114 sec after lift -off to further augment the thrust of the vehicle. These two engines continue to function after the separation of the strap-ons at about 140 seconds after lift -off.

The first experimental flight of LVM3, the LVM3-X/CARE mission lifted off from Sriharikota on December 18, 2014 and successfully tested the atmospheric phase of flight. Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment was also carried out in this flight. The module reentered, deployed its parachutes as planned and splashed down in the Bay of Bengal.

The first developmental flight of GSLV Mk III, the GSLV-Mk III-D1 successfully placed GSAT-19 satellite to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on June 05, 2017 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.

GSLV MkIII-D2, the second developmental flight of GSLV MkIII successfully launched GSAT-29, a high throughput communication satellite on November 14, 2018 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota

Vehicle Specifications

Height : 43.43 m
Vehicle Diameter : 4.0 m
Heat Shield (Payload Fairing) Diameter : 5.0 m
Number of Stages : 3
Lift Off Mass : 640 tonnes
GSLV Mk III
The payload for GSLV Mk III is accommodated in the composite payload fairing which has a diameter of 5 m.
C25 stage is newly developed, totally indigenous upper stage of GSLV Mk III. This is the terminal stage of the vehicle loaded with 28 tons of propellants (LOX & LH2). The stage has an overall diameter of 4 m and length of 13.5 m. It is integrated on top of the L110 core liquid stage. The ignition of C25 stage takes place 2 seconds after the separation of the L110 stage about 322 seconds after lift-off. The functioning duration of C25 is 643 seconds and this will facilitate the GSAT-19 carried on-board to reach the intended GTO.
L110 stage is the core stage of GSLV Mk III with twin engine configuration to generate a combined thrust of 1598 kN for 200 sec duration. Powered by two Vikas engines, the core stage of GSLV Mk III will be the powerhouse of the launch vehicle as it will propel the vehicle through the atmospheric phase of its flight.
The two strap-on motors of GSLV Mk III are located on either side of its core liquid booster. Designated as ‘S200’, each carries 205 tons of composite solid propellant and their ignition results in vehicle lift -off. S200s function for 128 seconds. During strap-ons functioning phase, the two clustered Vikas liquid Engines of L110 liquid core booster will ignite 114 sec after lift -off to further augment the thrust of the vehicle. These two engines continue to function after the separation of the strap-ons at about 140 seconds after lift -off.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Payload to GTO: 4,000 kg

Payload to GTO: 4,000 kg

GSLV Mk III will be capable of placing the 4 tonne class satellites of the GSAT series into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits.

Payload to LEO: 8,000 kg

Payload to LEO: 8,000 kg

The powerful cryogenic stage of GSLV Mk III enables it to place heavy payloads into Low Earth Orbits of 600 km altitude.

Cryogenic Upper Stage : C25

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

Solid Rocket Boosters : S200

GSLV Mk III 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

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 : 110 tonnes of UDMH + N2O4

GSLV Mk III Launches Till Date

SN Title Launch Date Launcher Type Payload Remarks
3 GSLV Mk III-D2 / GSAT-29 Mission Nov 14, 2018 GSLV-MK-III GSAT-29
2 GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission Jun 05, 2017 GSLV-MK-III GSAT-19
1 LVM-3/CARE Mission Dec 18, 2014 GSLV-MK-III Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE)