LVM3 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III)
What is LVM3?
The Launch Vehicle Mk III or LVM3 refer to Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III or GSLV Mk-III.
LVM3 is configured as a three stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors (S200), one liquid core stage (L110) and a high thrust cryogenic upper stage (C25).
The overall length of the vehicle is 43.5 m with a gross lift-off weight of 640 tonnes and a 5m-diameter payload fairing.
Solid Rocket Boosters : S200
LVM3 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) |
Liquid Core Stage : L110
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 | 115 tonnes of UDMH + H2O |
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 |
Vehicle Specifications
| Height | 43.5 m |
| Vehicle Diameter | 4.0 m |
| Heat Shield (Payload Fairing) Diameter | 5.0 m |
| Number of Stages | 3 |
| Lift Off Mass | 640 tonnes |
List of LVM3 Rocket Launches
| Sl. No. | Title | Launch Date | Launcher Type | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LVM-3/CARE Mission | July 14, 2023 | LVM3 | Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) |
| 2 | LVM3 -D1/GSAT-19 Mission | Mar 26, 2023 | LVM3 | GSAT-19 |
| 3 | LVM3 -D2 / GSAT-29 Mission | Oct 23, 2022 | LVM3 | GSAT-29 |
| 4 | LVM3 – M1 / Chandrayaan-2 Mission | Jul 22, 2019 | LVM3 | Chandrayaan-2 |
| 5 | LVM3 M2 / OneWeb India-1 Mission | Nov 14, 2018 | LVM3 | OneWeb Gen-1 |
| 6 | LVM3 M3 / OneWeb India-2 Mission | Jun 05, 2017 | LVM3 | OneWeb Gen-1 |
| 7 | LVM3 M4 / Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission | Dec 18, 2014 | LVM3 | Chandrayaan-3 |