India’s 1st Privately Manufactured PSLV

India’s 1st Privately Manufactured PSLV

Builder: HAL–L&T consortium (under ISRO guidance)

Launch: Scheduled for Q3 2025

Contract: First PSLV built under private sector contract (5 rockets planned)

Payload – TDS-1 (Technology Demonstration Satellite)

• Will test ~35 new indigenous technologies (final list to be confirmed).
• Key experiments:
  • Electric propulsion: 300 milli-Newton thruster (developed at ISRO’s LPSC).
  • Chemical propulsion systems.
  • Indigenous atomic clock.
  • Quantum payloads.
  • Other advanced space technologies.

Significance

• Privatisation milestone – first time PSLV is manufactured outside ISRO, by Indian industry.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat in space: boosts indigenisation of critical technologies.
• Strategic impact: paves way for industry-led production of rockets → more launches, reduced costs.
• Future readiness: electric propulsion & quantum tech support long-duration & deep-space missions.
  
  ISRO’s Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
  Objective: Replace PSLV/GSLV; enable heavy-lift and future human/lunar missions.
  
  Capacity: ~1000 tonnes lift-off mass; 93 m tall.
  
  Configuration:
  • Three propulsive stages + two strap-on boosters
  • Core stage: 9 × LOX-Methane engines (110 tonnes thrust each, 475 tonnes propellant)
  • Second stage: 2 × LOX-Methane engines, 128 tonnes propellant
  • Upper stage: Cryogenic C-32 LOX-Hydrogen engine with 32 tonnes propellant
• Status:
  • Configuration study complete.
  • Design finalised for 11 LOX-Methane engines (9 core + 2 second stage).
  • Fabrication clearances in progress; test facilities being set up.

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  Strategic Importance

  • Privatisation: Boosts private sector role in manufacturing launch vehicles.
  • Self-reliance: Strengthens Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical space technologies.
  • Tech leap: Testing electric propulsion, quantum tech, atomic clock = future readiness for deep space, navigation, and secure comms.
  • NGLV impact: Enhances India’s capacity for human spaceflight, lunar missions, and space station (BAS).
    
    Updated - Updated: Feb 18, 2025, 2:30 PM | TOI