ISRO's Project Soorya - Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) development program

[Indx TechStyle]

Kerala | PSLV not immortal. Don't have a clear time in mind but it will not stay for another 100 years. PSLV was developed in the 1980s, hence does not serve the needs of 2020s. Evolution has to happen: ISRO Chairman, S Somnath

 

[Indx TechStyle]

ISRO developing new rocket to replace PSLV

ISRO chairman S Somanath

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing a rocket named Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) to replace its ageing workhorse the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) that was developed in the 1980s.

This was announced by ISRO chairman S Somanath at a press conference on the sidelines of the 'Engineers Conclave 2022' at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Valiyamala here on Thursday.

"PSLV was developed in the 1980s and it does not serve the needs of the 2020s. There needs to be an evolution," Somanath said. While refusing to give an exact time frame for retiring PSLV, he said that ISRO will stop using the rocket after completing the remaining launches approved by the government.

Asked specifically about propulsion technology to be used in the NGLV, Somanath said it will use 'semi-cryogenic' technology which is both efficient and cost-effective. He hinted that the new rocket could also be 'reusable'. "A reusable rocket will have a smaller payload than an expendable one. If it is reusable, the payload will be around five tonnes and if it's expendable, it will go up 10 tonnes," he added. Somanath said the payload parameters were arrived at after analysing the current market requirements.

Somanath said the participation of the industry was essential right from the beginning of the new rocket's development. This would ensure that capability is created outside ISRO to build, operate and launch it on a commercial basis. "It is possible for the industry to support and create this rocket (NGLV) as a national asset that can be operated for a sufficient period of time," he said earlier while speaking at the conclave.

Somanath said ISRO is also engaged in discussions with the Union Agriculture Department to develop a 'Bharat Krishi satellite' to study the growth pattern of crops, identify irrigation deficiencies and provide information that will help in pest-control and verification of farm insurance claims besides many other applications.

"We will give support to the Agriculture department. The satellites will be owned and operated by them. A minimum of two satellites will be needed to ensure proper re-visit capability," he added.

The ISRO chairman said the space agency is exploring the possibility of increasing civilian use of the country's indigenous satellite navigation system NaVIC. However, he admitted that the efforts have not given any tangible outcome.

"It is penetrating slowly into the civilian sector. But the primary goal of NaVIC continues to remain as a service to the strategic sectors," he reminded.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

^ Looks like they are going to make semi-cryo based rocket family to replace PSLV, GSLV, LVM3 as a whole. It would be better if it goes so and will being launch frequency per year in two digits in a short span of time.

List of orbital launch systems - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

If members look here; USA, USSR and PRC prefer building and operating one complete series of modular launch vehicles with interchangeable parts (like ISRO's old UMLV family concept) at one period of time which enables quick manufacturing and higher launch capacity.

 

[Vamsi]

Naacho BC

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Okabe Rintarou @omaebakabaka and others

 

[Jimih]

10ton for GTO. How much for LEO?

22-25 tons

 

[Vamsi]

This is the development model for NGLV

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Early test of LM20 Engine (Liquid Methane 20 tonnes class), year 2021

 

[Swesh]

Early test of LM20 Engine (Liquid Methane 20 tonnes class), year 2021

Too many dedicated threads but i am happy more space nerds has flocked this forum

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Too many dedicated threads but i am happy more space nerds has flocked this forum

1 more dedicated thread for NAVIC will be there.
I will be looking for expansion into few hundred if not thousands of replies in 2 years.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Good. It’s time we retire the PSLV. Unfortunately we have been relying on them for a long time. Gslv mk2 unfortunately have been inconsistent. So we need an new vehicle to replace PSLV and GSLVmk2.

 

[Varoon2]

move under appropriate subject heading if this is not the one

Question: Why has ISRO never, as in not once(?) made use of a Japanese launcher for its satellites? Is it just that India got comfortable with French, Russian and American launchers, and decided to stick with those 3 ? Or that ISRO never really inquired at all with the Japanese, nor did they make an offer to India. Not sure about now, but Japan's capabilities were certainly higher than India's in the first decade of this century.

 

[Vamsi]

As per this article, NGLV design will be ready within a year and the first launch is tentatively planned to happen in 2030..this LV will be used for our space station construction

ISRO eyes next generation launch vehicle for heavier payloads

The NGLV is envisioned as a simple, robust machine designed for bulk manufacturing that will make space transportation more cost effective

www.google.com

 

[Vamsi]

Launch Vehicle Performance Calculator

using the above website I made some estimations for the empty weights of stages for proposed NGLV powered by SCE-200 & CE-20 engines, I excluded Methalox engines for now as we don't know the targeted specific impulse of those engines

For NGLV to carry 10tons to GTO (36000 x 185 Km, 22 deg inclination) & 22.5 tons to LEO ( 185 x 185 km, 45deg inclination) in fully expendable mode, it should have the following specs

1st stage - SC450
engines: 5 x SCE-200
Total thrust: 9100KN
Isp: 299 sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 35000Kg

2nd stage- SC120
engines: 1 x SCE-200
Thrust: 2030KN
Isp: 335sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 8500Kg

3rd stage - C32
engines : 1 x CE-20
Thrust: 220KN
Isp: 443sec
empty weight(should not exceed): 4500Kg

Above empty weights should be the target, if ISRO wants to achieve 10Tons to GTO using SCE-200 & CE-20 engines

C-25 stage currently used in LVM-3 has dry weight of 4300 Kg with 28tons of propellent loading, they have to maintain almost the same empty weight ,but increase the propellent loading to 32 tons, this can achieved if they can use the common bulk head & balloon tanks like in Centaur Upper Stage of Atlas-V

SC120 currently being developed for LVM-3SC has dry weight of 11500 Kg, they should reduce it by 3000Kg by using Aluminium-Lithium alloys, balloon tanks just like in Falcon 9 & use common bulk head, they should use same methods for SC450 stage too to reach the above required empty weight.

development of NGLV will be challenging for ISRO, they should develop extremely light weight tanks, if they want to reach 10tons to GTO in expendable mode

NGLV can achieve 6tons to GTO & 16tons to LEO in booster reusable mode

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Lonewolf @Tactical Doge @Varoon2 @FalconSlayers @Haldilal @Jimih @AnantS and others

 

[Vamsi]

Launch Vehicle Performance Calculator

using the above website I made some estimations for the empty weights of stages for proposed NGLV powered by SCE-200 & CE-20 engines, I excluded Methalox engines for now as we don't know the targeted specific impulse of those engines

For NGLV to carry 10tons to GTO (36000 x 185 Km, 22 deg inclination) & 22.5 tons to LEO ( 185 x 185 km, 45deg inclination) in fully expendable mode, it should have the following specs

1st stage - SC450
engines: 5 x SCE-200
Total thrust: 9100KN
Isp: 299 sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 35000Kg

2nd stage- SC120
engines: 1 x SCE-200
Thrust: 2030KN
Isp: 335sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 8500Kg

3rd stage - C32
engines : 1 x CE-20
Thrust: 220KN
Isp: 443sec
empty weight(should not exceed): 4500Kg

Above empty weights should be the target, if ISRO wants to achieve 10Tons to GTO using SCE-200 & CE-20 engines

C-25 stage currently used in LVM-3 has dry weight of 4300 Kg with 28tons of propellent loading, they have to maintain almost the same empty weight ,but increase the propellent loading to 32 tons, this can achieved if they can use the common bulk head & balloon tanks like in Centaur Upper Stage of Atlas-V

SC120 currently being developed for LVM-3SC has dry weight of 11500 Kg, they should reduce it by 3000Kg by using Aluminium-Lithium alloys, balloon tanks just like in Falcon 9 & use common bulk head, they should use same methods for SC450 stage too to reach the above required empty weight.

development of NGLV will be challenging for ISRO, they should develop extremely light weight tanks, if they want to reach 10tons to GTO in expendable mode

NGLV can achieve 6tons to GTO & 16tons to LEO in booster reusable mode

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Lonewolf @Tactical Doge @Varoon2 @FalconSlayers @Haldilal @Jimih @AnantS and others

@SavageKing456

 

[AnantS]

Launch Vehicle Performance Calculator

using the above website I made some estimations for the empty weights of stages for proposed NGLV powered by SCE-200 & CE-20 engines, I excluded Methalox engines for now as we don't know the targeted specific impulse of those engines

For NGLV to carry 10tons to GTO (36000 x 185 Km, 22 deg inclination) & 22.5 tons to LEO ( 185 x 185 km, 45deg inclination) in fully expendable mode, it should have the following specs

1st stage - SC450
engines: 5 x SCE-200
Total thrust: 9100KN
Isp: 299 sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 35000Kg

2nd stage- SC120
engines: 1 x SCE-200
Thrust: 2030KN
Isp: 335sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 8500Kg

3rd stage - C32
engines : 1 x CE-20
Thrust: 220KN
Isp: 443sec
empty weight(should not exceed): 4500Kg

Above empty weights should be the target, if ISRO wants to achieve 10Tons to GTO using SCE-200 & CE-20 engines

C-25 stage currently used in LVM-3 has dry weight of 4300 Kg with 28tons of propellent loading, they have to maintain almost the same empty weight ,but increase the propellent loading to 32 tons, this can achieved if they can use the common bulk head & balloon tanks like in Centaur Upper Stage of Atlas-V

SC120 currently being developed for LVM-3SC has dry weight of 11500 Kg, they should reduce it by 3000Kg by using Aluminium-Lithium alloys, balloon tanks just like in Falcon 9 & use common bulk head, they should use same methods for SC450 stage too to reach the above required empty weight.

development of NGLV will be challenging for ISRO, they should develop extremely light weight tanks, if they want to reach 10tons to GTO in expendable mode

NGLV can achieve 6tons to GTO & 16tons to LEO in booster reusable mode

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Lonewolf @Tactical Doge @Varoon2 @FalconSlayers @Haldilal @Jimih @AnantS and others

I think they shall be first targeting getting SCE engine realised. Then target getting quintet engines realised. Weight reduction would be later on going exercise.

 

[karn]

Launch Vehicle Performance Calculator

using the above website I made some estimations for the empty weights of stages for proposed NGLV powered by SCE-200 & CE-20 engines, I excluded Methalox engines for now as we don't know the targeted specific impulse of those engines

For NGLV to carry 10tons to GTO (36000 x 185 Km, 22 deg inclination) & 22.5 tons to LEO ( 185 x 185 km, 45deg inclination) in fully expendable mode, it should have the following specs

1st stage - SC450
engines: 5 x SCE-200
Total thrust: 9100KN
Isp: 299 sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 35000Kg

2nd stage- SC120
engines: 1 x SCE-200
Thrust: 2030KN
Isp: 335sec
empty weight( should not exceed): 8500Kg

3rd stage - C32
engines : 1 x CE-20
Thrust: 220KN
Isp: 443sec
empty weight(should not exceed): 4500Kg

Above empty weights should be the target, if ISRO wants to achieve 10Tons to GTO using SCE-200 & CE-20 engines

C-25 stage currently used in LVM-3 has dry weight of 4300 Kg with 28tons of propellent loading, they have to maintain almost the same empty weight ,but increase the propellent loading to 32 tons, this can achieved if they can use the common bulk head & balloon tanks like in Centaur Upper Stage of Atlas-V

SC120 currently being developed for LVM-3SC has dry weight of 11500 Kg, they should reduce it by 3000Kg by using Aluminium-Lithium alloys, balloon tanks just like in Falcon 9 & use common bulk head, they should use same methods for SC450 stage too to reach the above required empty weight.

development of NGLV will be challenging for ISRO, they should develop extremely light weight tanks, if they want to reach 10tons to GTO in expendable mode

NGLV can achieve 6tons to GTO & 16tons to LEO in booster reusable mode

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Lonewolf @Tactical Doge @Varoon2 @FalconSlayers @Haldilal @Jimih @AnantS and others

But SC 200 isn't reusable and they aren't likely to make it so .. Probably hold off on reusable calculation until the methalox engine is ready.

 

[Vamsi]

But SC 200 isn't reusable and they aren't likely to make it so .. Probably hold off on reusable calculation until the methalox engine is ready.

They can make it reusable if they want to, but the problem with SCE-200 like any other kerosene-LOX engine is coking, because of which it's costly to refurbish the engine for a reuse flight, simply speaking SCE-200 will have costly maintenance, while Methalox engine will have cheap maintenance

 

[AnantS]

Weight reduction would be later on going exercise and carried out incrementally. Metallurgy is an Achilles heal for us. The more world moves towards reusable rocket engines, RDE engines - the countries who have invested in high temperature alloys ,composites & AI shall quickly achieve cutting edge in same.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

ISRO readies plan for next generation launch vehicle

Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation S. Somanath speaks during a presentation on ‘Advancement in Space Technologies’, at the inaugural session of the International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations, in Bengaluru on June 8, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI

The architecture for Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO), ambitious Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) has been finalised, ISRO chairman S. Somnath has said.

Speaking to presspersons at the SMOPS-2023 International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations here on Thursday, he said that the team working on the NGLV programme had already submitted a preliminary report focusing on what the rocket should look like.

“A big team is working on it at various centres and they came out with a report on how this rocket should look, what are the technology inputs, what are the approaches we should do, where we should do, manufacturing everything is being addressed,” Mr. Somnath said.

He added that ISRO wanted the NGLV to be partially reusable and that the boosters should be reusable.

“We should use new generation propulsion, we must have cryogenic propulsion also in case we need to improve payload and it must be manufacturable using the materials currently available in India. The cost should be brought down, the manufacturing cycle and industry should be looked at. After this process we are going to consult with every industry before we take up the project,” the ISRO chief added.

He said that the industry would be asked if they could accept the responsibility, and NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, would discuss it with the industry.

“If the industry is willing, they will be onboarded to be a shareholder and partner in this process where they get to be a responsible partner in designing and manufacturing. We will create a business model for funding,” he added.

Mr. Somnath said that the NGLV would be offered as a commercial launcher vehicle, for both governmental, and private use.

“This is the plan; it may take maybe five to 10 years given that new rocket development is a long-drawn process. But one big advantage is we have the facilities necessary to develop it today right now. This means development can happen without much investment,” Mr. Somnath said.

 

[Blademaster]

how far are we & ISRO behind NASA & SpaceX in terms of technological prowess and skill level?