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India to build its heaviest rocket to carry 10-tonne satellites

  • Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) plans to build its heaviest rocket, which can carry satellites weighing 10 tonnes into space. Currently, the space agency’s geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV MK-2) can carry satellites weighing only two tonnes.
  • “Once we have this engine, we will have different levels of launch vehicles possible. Currently, the GSLV MK-3 uses the CE20 engine and once we put the semi cryogenic engine in such a combination, we will have a much bigger rating, which will have a payload capability of 10 tonnes,” said S Somanath, project director of the GSLV MK-3 at Isro. He, however, did not set a time-frame for the rocket development.

PROPELLING INTO THE FUTURE
  • The proposed rocket would be powered by a semi-cryogenic engine - that runs on kerosene and liquid oxygen, which the space agency is currently developing.
     
  • Semi-cryogenic engines are environment-friendly and bring down the cost of launches significantly.
     
  • The design process for the semi-cryogenic engine has been completed and it is being built by Godrej Aerospace, which also makes the Vikas engines for Isro’s rockets.
     
  • Last year, Isro tested a demonstrator of its heavier class of rocket, the GSLV MK-3, designed to carry four-tonne class communication satellites into space.
Source: Business Standard

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