Indian Space Research Organization creates history once with the successful launch of its first heaviest rocket and latest generation vehicle GSLV Mk III carrying ‘Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE). GSLV Mk III was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. India steps towards manned space mission with the launch of GSLV Mk-III, ISRO’s heaviest rocket. Launch of GSLV Mk III makes the ISRO, realize ambition to send humans into space.
ISRO GSLV Mk III Specifications
Official sources denoted, the technical aspects of GSLV Mk III is that, ISRO researchers and scientists would study flight validation of the complex atmospheric flight regime of LVM 3 and would also test the ability of the CREW module to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere with thermal resistance, parachute deployment in cluster formation, aerobraking system and apex cover separation procedures soon after the lift-off of GSLV Mk III from Sriharikota. The lesser duration of the GSLV Mk III countdown for the mission was due to the dummy cryogenic stage. Separation of the CREW module would be from the rocket about 325.52 seconds after the lift-off at 126.16 km altitude. Exactly 5.4 minutes after lift-off at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, the module separated from the rocket at an altitude of 126 km and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere (about 80 km from sea level).
What makes the GSLV Mk III unique is that the specially made parachutes would help the module ‘soft-crash’ in the Bay of Bengal, some few hundred km from Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which would later be fetched by Indian Coast Guard ships where the entire exercise would be completed in around 20 to 30 minutes from lift-off in Sriharikota to splashing in the Bay of Bengal. GSLV Mk III rocket monetary value was of Rs 140 crore as per the sources of ISRO and the crew module has taken another Rs 15 crore. GSLV Mk III weighed 630-tonne which would carry the 3.65 tonne crew module even as the national space agency is equipping itself for its plan of sending astronauts into space eventually. Although, India government has not approved any human mission to space presently there may be expectancy in future where ISRO can make the country proud with its high-end space exploration technology.
ISRO GSLV Mk III Design And Architecture
GSLV Mk-III which weighs over three tonnes, the 2.7-metre tall cupcake shaped crew module with a diameter of 3.1 metres featuring aluminum alloy internal structure with composite panels and ablative thermal protection systems was conceived and designed to safely drop down into the sea by specially-made parachutes from Agra-based DRDO lab Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment witnessing the largest parachute in action ever made in the country. The main parachute, which helped the crew module touch the waters at around 7 metre/second speed, was 31 metres in diameter. GSLV Mk-III would be of great aid for ISRO in placing satellites into orbit. India’s heaviest rocket GSLV Mk-III design makes ISRO fully self-reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh 4,500 to 5,000 kg and enhances India’s capability to be a competitive player in the multi-million dollar commercial launch market.
Schedule of GSLV III launch is as follow,
9:00 am (Wednesday): The 24 and a half hour countdown for the launch has commenced.
2:00 pm (Wednesday): UH25 propellant has been filled to the 2nd Stage – L110. N2O4 propellant filling of 2nd Stage is in progress.
12:05 am: ISRO reveals exclusive picture of GSLV-Mark III Wednesday night.
9:30 am: ISRO’s experimental mission to test heaviest GSLV Mk-III rocket and human crew module lifts off from Sriharikota.
9:00 am: ISRO all set to launch the next generation rocket.
9:40 am: CARE module in its tense atmospheric re-entry.
9:34 pm: The CREW module has been separated from the rocket.
9:47 am: Scientists rejoice as GSLV Mark-III successfully launched.
9:54 am: ISRO has successfully carried out human crew module experiment. The module has safely splashed down into Bay of Bengal off Andaman and Nicobar Islands, says Radhakrishnan.
9:53 am: The ISRO chief congratulates his team on the highly successful launch.
9:52 am: ISRO chief Dr K Radhjakrishnan confirms successful launch of GSLV III, terms it a very significant day for India.
GSLV Mark-III test flight mission successful: ISRO Chairman
ISRO Chairman, K. Radhakrishnan who was delighted and has led ISRO to a new level of pride and honor in the world acclaimed that “This was a very significant day in the history of Indian space programme for the development of the advanced launch vehicle that could carry a 4-tonne class of communication satellite into orbit.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO and conveyed his wishes through on social micro-blogging site Twitter tweeting as “Successful launch of GSLV Mk-III is yet another triumph of brilliance and hard work of our scientists. Congrats to them and for the efforts. @isro.” All India Round Up greets and wishes the pride India Space Research Organization for the successful launch of GSLV Mk-III and stay tuned to us more reliable updates.