Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science and Technology
Why in News?
India’s biggest launch vehicle, LVM3, is put into orbit the communication satellite CMS-03 recently.
- Agency - It is India’s most powerful launch vehicle, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- It also known as GSLV Mk III or Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3).
- Weight –4,410 kg (1st one weighing over 4,000 kg).
- Orbit - geosynchronous transfer orbit
- Stage – 3 stages.
- Propellant - Two solid propellant S200 strap-ons.
- Height - ~43.5 meters
- Lift-off Mass - ~640 tonnes
- Payload Capacity (LEO) - Up to 8,000 kg.
- Payload Capacity (GTO) - Up to 4,000 kg.
- Stages – 3.
- Configuration - 2 solid strap-on boosters + 1 liquid core stage + 1 cryogenic upper stage.
- Notable Missions
- GSLV Mk III-D1 (2017) - First successful orbital flight — launched GSAT-19.
- GSLV Mk III-M1 (2019) - Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission.
- LVM3-M2 (2022) - Launched 36 OneWeb satellites (India’s first commercial heavy-lift mission).
- LVM3-M3 (2023) - Second OneWeb batch.
- Future Role - LVM3 is the workhorse for India’s upcoming human spaceflight program (Gaganyaan) and interplanetary missions, as well as commercial satellite launches.
Reference
The Indian Express | about LVM3
