LVM3 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III)
Table of Contents
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 |