First Look: India's Heaviest Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk.III with Unmanned Crew Module Onboard Rolled Out

[SOHEIL]

Yes i agree India has indeed done well considering its rocket has such a minsucule payload. I never knew their payload was sooo small. Its indeed a miracle to see India has achieved alot even with such a limited space orbital launch system(I was shcoked to see in the link you provided that China's smallest rocket has a wayyyy bigger payload than India's most powerful PSLV and even GSLV mark I and II, never knew that). This means GSLV mark III is really crucial for India if it wants to enter the 'Big boys space powers club'. Failure will mean it will set India back alot, and postpone its advancement even further. Hopefully it will be a sucess, fingers crossed.

As for your last point, surprisingly India's space budget isnt that much smaller than China, they are almost the same/not that big a gap last i checked($1.2 billion for India and about $2 billion for China) in 2013.



When is Iran latest SLV slated for launch bros?

We don't know

 

[mike2000]

We don't know

Well at least Iran has an SLV launch system, something no other country in the middle east has(despite all the help/JV/support they get from the West/U.S etc). You have to start from somewhere, once you have started, you can only go up, despite what other of your rival countries might say/laugh at you. It will have been a problem/real concern if you didnt have one to begin with. So be proud you even have one and are building a bigger one(though its yet to be tested/not known when), even advanced/developed south Korea with all the help they got from Russia and the U.S just managed to launch a satellite with their own rocket just this year or last year for the first time if im correct. So Iran doing it by itself way before South Korea inspite of all the severe sanctions/isolation we have placed on them is nothign short of a miracle and to be lauded. Its indeed a great achievement. Kudos to Iran, looking forward to your new launch vehicle when its ready.

Chinese don't disclose shit,,can u imagine an economy of 9 trillion spending just 2 billion a year
They are trolling everyone,,,even their defence budget should be close to 200-250 and not officially stated 125

lool Well you might be right, but tht remains to be seen. Afterall, i find no real reason not to believe their official figures, just like i find no real reason not to believe India's own official figures.

 

[he-man]

ool Well you might be right, but tht remains to be seen. Afterall, i find no real reason not to believe their official figures, just like i find no real reason not to believe India's own official figures.

Man we simply cannot afford more,,can china not afford 3-4 times more??
Btw where is UK'S own launch vehicle??

 

[Supply&Demand]

lool Well you might be right, but tht remains to be seen. Afterall, i find no real reason not to believe their official figures, just like i find no real reason not to believe India's own official figures.

except one tiny difference...Indian govt has to present its budget to people every year LIVE!! on TV!...that is then analyzed , broken down and discussed by 100s of news channel, economists in the country and the world....Chinese govt doesnt..so.try again dude!!!

 

[mike2000]

Man we simply cannot afford more,,can china not afford 3-4 times more??
Btw where is UK'S own launch vehicle??

They are still a developing vountry just like India(though much more developed/advanced, but still they have many people to lift out of porverty as well), so No, Its not like they are a developed country yet or soemthing. Some will even say this money will be better spent on other more pressing social needs to uplift the common man living standards etc etc....

except one tiny difference...Indian govt has to present its budget to people every year LIVE!! on TV!...that is then analyzed , broken down and discussed by 100s of news channel, economists in the country and the world....Chinese govt doesnt..so.try again dude!!!

Until i have seen factual prove of this claims/rumoursabout their budget being several times higher, then i wont believe it. Afterall, it just all based on rumours/estimates/assumption. If this is the case then it might also apply to several different countries who dont have so much 'trasparent budget'. All of this remains to be seen though, they are still just rumours/conspiracies with no real/substantial prove. Just like some conspiracy theories about the U.S being responsble for 9/11 attacks etc.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

When will the heavy launch vehicle be ready? Also this look more like a super heavy rocket. India should first creat a heavy 25t to Leo such as delta IV first before going for the super heavy one.

It's true that U.S., Russia, eu, and Japan all has more powerful Launch vehicle than China now until cz5 is ready. But Indians are only obsess with China. Is India skipping the 25 ton Leo heavy launch vehicle and go straight for the Saturn 5 class rockets?

The reason why we avoid you on our threads is evident from the fact that you prefer to jump to absurd conclusions without having a look at the facts and figures available and doing a bit of research on them since it takes just a minute or a two to sort things out. It isn't limited to the space sciences but all of the aspects concerning India - guys like you sometimes literally talk sh*t - allege what was never claimed earlier from the "point" air defence to the SLV programme and then troll like hell.

We are not skipping anything as such - there are all together 4 different configurations/variants planned which are as follows based on both semi-cryogenic and cryogenic stages (and these are all unofficial plans coming out of interviews and sources available on the net) -

Here is my entire discussion if you wanna know more - ISRO Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV)
​

@SOHEIL @Indo-guy @kurup @Guynextdoor2 @he-man whats your take on these configurations guys?

 

[he-man]

The reason why we avoid you on our threads is evident from the fact that you prefer to jump to absurd conclusions without having a look at the facts and figures available and doing a bit of research on them since it takes just a minute or a two to sort things out. It isn't limited to the space sciences but all of the aspects concerning India - guys like you sometimes literally talk sh*t - allege what was never claimed earlier from the "point" air defence to the SLV programme and then troll like hell.

We are not skipping anything as such - there are all together 4 different configurations/variants planned which are as follows based on both semi-cryogenic and cryogenic stages (and these are all unofficial plans coming out of interviews and sources available on the net) -

View attachment 175575

Here is my entire discussion if you wanna know more - ISRO Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV)​

How far are we onto sc160?
Has it progressed beyond a design phase?

 

[Indo-guy]

The reason why we avoid you on our threads is evident from the fact that you prefer to jump to absurd conclusions without having a look at the facts and figures available and doing a bit of research on them since it takes just a minute or a two to sort things out. It isn't limited to the space sciences but all of the aspects concerning India - guys like you sometimes literally talk sh*t - allege what was never claimed earlier from the "point" air defence to the SLV programme and then troll like hell.

We are not skipping anything as such - there are all together 4 different configurations/variants planned which are as follows based on both semi-cryogenic and cryogenic stages (and these are all unofficial plans coming out of interviews and sources available on the net) -

View attachment 175575

Here is my entire discussion if you wanna know more - ISRO Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV)
​

@SOHEIL @Indo-guy @kurup @Guynextdoor2 @he-man whats your take on these configurations guys?

well this is the future of Indian launch vehicles ...this ' modular' configuration will save lot of efforts and resources ....

the vehicle can be ' tailor' made to suit the mission requirements ...

Challenge will be to realize the Semi cryogenic engine ....which is still in design phase .

India is already hallway through as far as C25 is concerned ...

The very first hot test of CE 20 is scheduled this month ...

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Have far are we onto sc160?
Has it progressed beyond a design phase?

View attachment 175576

Last time I checked (September 14) - in an interview the LPSC director said about SC160 - "The design of the semi-cryogenic engine by LPSC is complete, now the fabrication of sub-systems including booster turbo-pump and pre-burner has commenced and is in the realization stage. The component level testing is set for next month,"

The project is expected to cost about Rs 2,500 crore. No recent updates.

Interestingly they are focusing on RLV as well

Post Mangalyaan, space scientists on mission mode - The Times of India

Here is the official stance from the Annual report '14 -

The semi-cryogenic Project envisages the design and development of a 2000 kN semi-cryogenic engine for a future heavy-lift Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV) and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). The semi-cryogenic engine uses a combination of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and ISROSENE (propellant-grade kerosene), which are eco-friendly and cost-effective propellants.

Realisation of semi-cryogenic engine involves the development of performance-critical metallic and non-metallic materials and related processing technologies. 23 metallic materials and 6 non-metallic materials have been developed. Characterisation of injector elements and hypergolic slug igniters with different proportion of Tri-ethyl Aluminium and Tri-ethyl Boron has been completed. Sub-scale models of thrust chamber have been realised and ignition trials have been carried out successfully. Single element thrust chamber hot test in stage combustion cycle mode was also conducted successfully.

Establishment of test facilities like Cold Flow Test Facility and Integrated Engine Test Facility are under various stages of realisation. Fabrication drawings are realised for all sub-systems and fabrication of booster turbo-pump and pre-burner subsystem commenced.

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14

 

[Indo-guy]

How far are we onto sc160?
Has it progressed beyond a design phase?

View attachment 175576

@Chanakya's_Chant some additional information here

"The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for Semi-cryogenic engine development has been completed. Preparation of fabrication drawings of subsystems have been completed. A MOU has been signed with NFTDC for the realization of copper alloy for Thrust chamber. Single element Pre-Burner (PB) injector realized and injector spray characterization using PIV was carried out. Test facility for single element pre-burner commissioned at PRG facility, VSSC. Semi Cryo Test facility design by M/s Rolta has been completed. Design of Semi Cryo Engine including heat exchanger and ejector is competed. Fabrication drawings and documents are generated based on the PDR and joint reviews. Configuration design of subscale engine is completed. Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of Hydraulic Actuation System (HAS) and Hydraulic Power System (HPS) for Engine Gimbal control is completed and Technical specifications are finalized.
"Single Element Pre-Burner injector element has been hot tested successfully. Ignition of LOX/ Isrosene propellant with hypergolic slug igniter and flame holding, demonstration of safe handling of pyrophoric fluid TEA, validation of start sequence, characterization of injector elements and qualification of Hayness-214 material are the major achievements of the tests.
"Design of single element thrust chamber is completed and fabrication drawings are generated. Single element thrust chamber injector elements are realized and cold flow tests were carried out. Special pre burner which will provide hot gases for testing the single element thrust chamber has been realized."

source - ISRO annual report 2013-2014

Last time I checked (September 14) - in an interview the LPSC director said about SC160 - "The design of the semi-cryogenic engine by LPSC is complete, now the fabrication of sub-systems including booster turbo-pump and pre-burner has commenced and is in the realization stage. The component level testing is set for next month,"

The project is expected to cost about Rs 2,500 crore. No recent updates.

Interestingly they are focusing on RLV as well

Post Mangalyaan, space scientists on mission mode - The Times of India

Here is the official stance from the Annual report '14 -

The semi-cryogenic Project envisages the design and development of a 2000 kN semi-cryogenic engine for a future heavy-lift Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV) and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). The semi-cryogenic engine uses a combination of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and ISROSENE (propellant-grade kerosene), which are eco-friendly and cost-effective propellants.

Realisation of semi-cryogenic engine involves the development of performance-critical metallic and non-metallic materials and related processing technologies. 23 metallic materials and 6 non-metallic materials have been developed. Characterisation of injector elements and hypergolic slug igniters with different proportion of Tri-ethyl Aluminium and Tri-ethyl Boron has been completed. Sub-scale models of thrust chamber have been realised and ignition trials have been carried out successfully. Single element thrust chamber hot test in stage combustion cycle mode was also conducted successfully.

Establishment of test facilities like Cold Flow Test Facility and Integrated Engine Test Facility are under various stages of realisation. Fabrication drawings are realised for all sub-systems and fabrication of booster turbo-pump and pre-burner subsystem commenced.

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14

Unlike CE7.5 we are able to develop and test various subsytems of newer cryogenic engines in parallel ..simultaneously .

that will save lot of time ...and we will be able to develope newer cryogenic engines much faster ....

starting with CE7.5 was perhaps wrong thing ..as it is one of the most complicated thing to do ....

Every time the engine had to be tested as a whole ...and if something would go amiss they will have to go back and start from the scratch ....because of different characteristic of cryogenics involved ...

 

[he-man]

Last time I checked (September 14) - in an interview the LPSC director said about SC160 - "The design of the semi-cryogenic engine by LPSC is complete, now the fabrication of sub-systems including booster turbo-pump and pre-burner has commenced and is in the realization stage. The component level testing is set for next month,"

The project is expected to cost about Rs 2,500 crore. No recent updates.

Interestingly they are focusing on RLV as well

Post Mangalyaan, space scientists on mission mode - The Times of India

Here is the official stance from the Annual report '14 -

The semi-cryogenic Project envisages the design and development of a 2000 kN semi-cryogenic engine for a future heavy-lift Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV) and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). The semi-cryogenic engine uses a combination of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and ISROSENE (propellant-grade kerosene), which are eco-friendly and cost-effective propellants.

Realisation of semi-cryogenic engine involves the development of performance-critical metallic and non-metallic materials and related processing technologies. 23 metallic materials and 6 non-metallic materials have been developed. Characterisation of injector elements and hypergolic slug igniters with different proportion of Tri-ethyl Aluminium and Tri-ethyl Boron has been completed. Sub-scale models of thrust chamber have been realised and ignition trials have been carried out successfully. Single element thrust chamber hot test in stage combustion cycle mode was also conducted successfully.

Establishment of test facilities like Cold Flow Test Facility and Integrated Engine Test Facility are under various stages of realisation. Fabrication drawings are realised for all sub-systems and fabrication of booster turbo-pump and pre-burner subsystem commenced.

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14

Very nice,,i would be satisfied if they can achieve it within next 5 years.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Yes i agree India has indeed done well considering its rocket has such a minsucule payload. I never knew their payload was sooo small. Its indeed a miracle to see India has achieved alot even with such a limited space orbital launch system(I was shcoked to see in the link you provided that China's smallest rocket has a wayyyy bigger payload than India's most powerful PSLV and even GSLV mark I and II, never knew that). This means GSLV mark III is really crucial for India if it wants to enter the 'Big boys space powers club'. Failure will mean it will set India back alot, and postpone its advancement even further. Hopefully it will be a sucess, fingers crossed.

As for your last point, surprisingly India's space budget isnt that much smaller than China, they are almost the same/not that big a gap last i checked($1.2 billion for India and about $2 billion for China) in 2013.



When is Iran latest SLV slated for launch bros?

That's not an accurate assessment. Payload capacity has to match uses. Even without GSLV Mk3, about 90% of our launches are done on Indian soil. There is a group of heavy sats that go to Ariane, which will now come here if GSLV Mk3 succeeds. Unlike China, I don't think India should rush into things like launching space stations and stuff. So current payload + GSLV Mk3 will allow for development of most of our objectives- communication sats, remote sensing sats, spy sats + a healthy progress on human space flight. When ULV will be ready, we can evolve into doing more complex things.

well this is the future of Indian launch vehicles ...this ' modular' configuration will save lot of efforts and resources ....

the vehicle can be ' tailor' made to suit the mission requirements ...

Challenge will be to realize the Semi cryogenic engine ....which is still in design phase .

India is already hallway through as far as C25 is concerned ...

The very first hot test of CE 20 is scheduled this month ...

If you watch closely several systems are common with GSLV Mk3- S 200, 'new booster', I think the new cryos and semi-cryos will be the key. I must say 15 T GTO is one hell of a haul. Just what the hell are we planning I wonder.

 

[The Great One]

The post is inaccurate. Russian semi cryos were built for early stages and full cryos for upper stages. India's lower stage configurations for GSLV was already in place, we needed cryos for upper stage, so we got them made first.

Ummmmm......Mister.
Russians use semi-cyrogenics for the upper stage of Proton, upper stage of Soyuz and upper stage of the poor N1 (infact all stages were semi-cyro). For earlier stages they use hypergolic.
Thank You. Please come again.
Indians being as un-innovative and poor as we are, decided to use the same old Vikas engine from the PSLV for GSLV and decided to get cyrogenic via ToT. If we could have worked on semi-cyros, we could have gone the SpaceX way and used semi-cyros in all stages like they did for Falcon 9 and would have already got ourselves a reasonable heavy/mid launch capacity by now.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Ummmmm......Mister.
Russians use semi-cyrogenics for the upper stage of Proton, upper stage of Soyuz and upper stage of the poor N1 (infact all stages were semi-cyro). For earlier stages they use hypergolic.
Thank You. Please come again.
Indians being as un-innovative and poor as we are, decided to use the same old Vikas engine from the PSLV for GSLV and decided to get cyrogenic via ToT. If we could have worked on semi-cyros, we could have gone the SpaceX way and used semi-cyros in all stages like they did for Falcon 9 and would have already got ourselves a reasonable heavy/mid launch capacity by now.

Whoever gave you the idea that one should use semi cryos only after cryos is just lame. And no reason to throw vikas off just coz it's 'old'

 

[The Great One]

Whoever gave you the idea that one should use semi cryos only after cryos is just lame. And no reason to throw vikas off just coz it's 'old'

Oh of course, for the mighty Guynextdoor can build cyrogenics and semi-cyrogenics all at the same time within ISRO's budget and infrastructure while blasting all earlier records of development time for cyros ( most over 10 years) at that.

Btw Your sentence should have read 'cyros only after semi-cyros'.