ISRO tests third largest rocket booster in the world
25 Jan 2010
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 |
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.