Next Generation Launch Vehicle

Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV/Soorya)
FunctionMedium to Heavy-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerISRO
Country of originIndia
Size
Height93 m (305 ft)[1]
Width5 m (16 ft)
Mass600 t (590 long tons; 660 short tons) to 1,094 t (1,077 long tons; 1,206 short tons)
Booster stage – S200 Boosters (NGLV-H)
Height25 m (82 ft)[2]
Diameter3.2 m (10 ft)[3]
Empty mass31,000 kg (68,000 lb) each[4]
Gross mass236,000 kg (520,000 lb) each[4]
Propellant mass205,000 kg (452,000 lb) each[4]
Powered bySolid S200
Maximum thrust5,151 kN (525.3 tf)[5][6]
Specific impulse274.5 seconds (2.692 km/s) (vacuum)[4]
Burn time128 s[4]
PropellantHTPB / AP[4]
First stage – (NGLV/NGLV-H)
Diameter5.0 m (16.4 ft)
Powered by9 LME-20
PropellantLOX / CH4
Second stage – (NGLV/NGLV-H)
Diameter5.0 m (16.4 ft)
Powered by2 LME-20
PropellantLOX / CH4
Third stage – C32 (NGLV/NGLV-H)
Height13.545 m (44.44 ft)[4]
Diameter5.0 m (16.4 ft)[4]
Empty mass5,000 kg (11,000 lb)[7]
Gross mass33,000 kg (73,000 lb)[7]
Propellant mass28,000 kg (62,000 lb)[4]
Powered by1 CE-20
Maximum thrust186.36 kN (19.003 tf)[4]
Specific impulse442 seconds (4.33 km/s)
Burn time643 s[4]
PropellantLOX / LH2
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass30–70 t (66,000–154,000 lb)[8]
Payload to GTO
Mass8,500 to 24,000 kg (18,700 to 52,900 lb)[citation needed]
Payload to TLI
Mass7,000 to 22,500 kg (15,400 to 49,600 lb)[citation needed]
Associated rockets
Comparable
Launch history
StatusUnder Development
Launch sitesSatish Dhawan TLP
First flight
2031
Type of passengers/cargo
[9]
[edit on Wikidata]

The Next Generation Launch Vehicle or NGLV or "Soorya" (previously referred to as Unified Launch Vehicle or ULV) is a three-stage partially reusable Heavy-lift launch vehicle, currently under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This vehicle is designed to replace currently operational systems like PSLV, GSLV and LVM3.[10][11][12]

This family of three launchers was previously being designed for replacing the different core propulsion modules of PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3 respectively with a common semi-cryogenic engine and hence it was named as Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV).[13] Unlike the latest proposal of the launcher, the initial proposals were planned to be expendable. But the new proposals under the name of Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) suggests launchers having partial reusability.[14]

According to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, the new rocket has a load capacity of between 20 and 1,215 tonnes.[15] As of March 2024, the first NGLV launch is tentatively scheduled for 2034–2035.[16] As of September 2023, The first flight is now planned foe 2031.

  1. ^ Bagla, Pallav (21 September 2024). "ISRO's New Rocket 'Soorya', At 93 Metres, Taller Than Qutab Minar". NDTV. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ "LVM3(Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III)". ISRO. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ "LVM3(Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III)". ISRO. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "LVM3". Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  5. ^ "LVM3 S200 Booster First Static Test (S200-ST-01)" (PDF). Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. ISRO. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ "India to test world's third largest solid rocket booster". Science and Technology Section. The Hindu News Paper. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  7. ^ a b "GSLV Mark III-D1 / GSAT-19 Brochure". IRSO. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  8. ^ "New Re-usable Low-cost launch vehicle for Bharat". Press Information Bureau. Union Cabinet, Government of India. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  9. ^ Clark, Stephen. "India approves development of reusable launcher, space station module". Ars Technica. WIRED Media Group. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  10. ^ "ISRO's Next-Gen Launch Vehicle may assume PSLV's role". The Hindu. 13 October 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  11. ^ "ISRO developing new rocket to replace PSLV". The New Indian Express. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  12. ^ Bagla, Pallava; Sharma, Divyam (29 June 2024). "Mega Rocket 'Soorya' In the Making, Will Take Indians To Moon: ISRO Chief To NDTV". NDTV. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  13. ^ Srs (2 January 2013). "Antariksh: ISRO Unified Launch vehicle". Antariksh. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. ^ Livemint (30 October 2022). "ISRO eyes reusable rocket to carry heavier payloads into the orbit. Read here". mint. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. ^ "ISRO to launch India's first space station by 2028, says chief S Somnath". Moneycontrol. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference toi-20240314 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).