ISRO tests third largest rocket booster in the world

The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully conducted a static test of the S-200, the largest solid booster developed by it, which will used in a strap-on mode on the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mk III (GSLV-Mk III), the space agency said Sunday.

The GSLV-Mk III

The S-200 is the third largest solid booster in the world, next only to the reusable solid rocket motor (RSRM) solid booster of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Space Shuttle and the P-230 solid booster of Ariane-5 of the European Arianespace.

This is India's largest satellite launch vehicle and will be used for launching heavy satellites in the four-tonne class in a geo-synchronous transfer orbit with a perigee of about 200 km and an apogee of 36,000 km. Alternately, the Gslv-III can put a 10-tonne satellite in a near-earth orbit at an altitude of about 300 km.

The GSLV-Mk III has three stages with the twin boosters, S-200, forming the first stage. The boosters are wrapped around the second stage which uses liquid fuel. The third stage uses a cryogenic motor.

The S-200 is so-called because it uses 200 tonnes of solid propellants.

''The solid booster (S200) will form the strap-on stage for the GSLV-Mk III, which is in advanced stage of development for launching four-tonne class of communication satellites,'' state-run ISRO said in a statement here.