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The PSLV is one of world's most reliable launch vehicles. It has been in service for over twenty years and has launched various satellites for historic missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) etc.
PSLV remains a favourite among various organisations as a launch service provider and has launched over 40 satellites for 19 countries. In 2008 it created a record for most number of satellites placed in orbit in one launch by launching 10 satellites into various Low Earth Orbits.
Vehicle Specifications
Height : 44 m
Diameter : 2.8 m
Number of Stages : 4
Lift Off Mass : 320 tonnes (XL)
Variants : 3 (PSLV-G, PSLV - CA, PSLV - XL)
First Flight : September 20, 1993
Payload Fairing
The PSLV is capable of placing multiple payloads into orbit, thus multi-payload adaptors are used in the payload fairing. This allowed the feat of launching 10 satellites into different orbits in 2008.
PSLV earned its title 'the Workhorse of ISRO' through consistently delivering various satellites to Low Earth Orbits, particularly the IRS series of satellites. It can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude.
Payload to Sub GTO: 1,425 kg
Due to its unmatched reliability, PSLV has also been used to launch various satellites into Geosynchronous and Geostationary orbits, like satellites from the IRNSS constellation.
Strap-on Motors
PSLV uses 6 solid rocket strap-on motors to augment the thrust provided by the first stage in its PSLV-G and PSLV-XL variants. However, strap-ons are not used in the core alone version (PSLV-CA).
Fuel : HTPB
Max. Thrust : 719 kN
First Stage: PS1
PSLV uses the S139 solid rocket motor that is augmented by 6 solid strap-on boosters.
PS1 is the first stage of PSLV and it provides the launcher the high thrust that is required for lift off. It uses the S139 solid rocket booster that contains 138 tonnes of HTPB.
Engine : S139
Fuel : HTPB
Max. Thrust : 4800 kN
Second Stage: PS2
PSLV uses an Earth storable liquid rocket engine for its second stage, know as the Vikas engine, developed by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
PS2 is the second stage of PSLV and is powered by the Vikas liquid engine, developed in the early 90s.
Engine : Vikas
Fuel : UDMH + N2O4
Max. Thrust : 799 kN
Third Stage: PS3
The third stage of PSLV is a solid rocket motor that provides the upper stages high thrust after the atmospheric phase of the launch.
PS3 is the third and penultimate stage of PSLV, and it uses a solid rocket for propulsion.
Fuel : HTPB
Max. Thrust : 240 kN
Fourth Stage: PS4
The PS4 is the uppermost stage of PSLV, comprising of two Earth storable liquid engines.
PS4 is the fourth and final stage of PSLV and it uses two liquid engines for propulsion. PS4 is responsible for the correct injection of PSLV's payloads into their respective desired orbits.
Engine : 2 x PS-4
Fuel : MMH + MON
Max. Thrust : 7.6 x 2 kN
PSLV remains a favourite among various organisations as a launch service provider and has launched over 40 satellites for 19 countries. In 2008 it created a record for most number of satellites placed in orbit in one launch by launching 10 satellites into various Low Earth Orbits.
Vehicle Specifications
Height : 44 m
Diameter : 2.8 m
Number of Stages : 4
Lift Off Mass : 320 tonnes (XL)
Variants : 3 (PSLV-G, PSLV - CA, PSLV - XL)
First Flight : September 20, 1993
Payload Fairing
The PSLV is capable of placing multiple payloads into orbit, thus multi-payload adaptors are used in the payload fairing. This allowed the feat of launching 10 satellites into different orbits in 2008.
PSLV earned its title 'the Workhorse of ISRO' through consistently delivering various satellites to Low Earth Orbits, particularly the IRS series of satellites. It can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude.
Payload to Sub GTO: 1,425 kg
Due to its unmatched reliability, PSLV has also been used to launch various satellites into Geosynchronous and Geostationary orbits, like satellites from the IRNSS constellation.
Strap-on Motors
PSLV uses 6 solid rocket strap-on motors to augment the thrust provided by the first stage in its PSLV-G and PSLV-XL variants. However, strap-ons are not used in the core alone version (PSLV-CA).
Fuel : HTPB
Max. Thrust : 719 kN
First Stage: PS1
PSLV uses the S139 solid rocket motor that is augmented by 6 solid strap-on boosters.
PS1 is the first stage of PSLV and it provides the launcher the high thrust that is required for lift off. It uses the S139 solid rocket booster that contains 138 tonnes of HTPB.
Engine : S139
Fuel : HTPB
Max. Thrust : 4800 kN
Second Stage: PS2
PSLV uses an Earth storable liquid rocket engine for its second stage, know as the Vikas engine, developed by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
PS2 is the second stage of PSLV and is powered by the Vikas liquid engine, developed in the early 90s.
Engine : Vikas
Fuel : UDMH + N2O4
Max. Thrust : 799 kN
Third Stage: PS3
The third stage of PSLV is a solid rocket motor that provides the upper stages high thrust after the atmospheric phase of the launch.
PS3 is the third and penultimate stage of PSLV, and it uses a solid rocket for propulsion.
Fuel : HTPB
Max. Thrust : 240 kN
Fourth Stage: PS4
The PS4 is the uppermost stage of PSLV, comprising of two Earth storable liquid engines.
PS4 is the fourth and final stage of PSLV and it uses two liquid engines for propulsion. PS4 is responsible for the correct injection of PSLV's payloads into their respective desired orbits.
Engine : 2 x PS-4
Fuel : MMH + MON
Max. Thrust : 7.6 x 2 kN
