New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has begun the assembly of the HLVM3 rocket for the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2025. This marks a significant milestone in India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, with the data gathered from this mission expected to be crucial for the success of future manned missions.
The launch date will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the LVM3-X/CARE mission, which took place on December 18, 2014. ISRO highlighted the occasion, stating, “On the 10th anniversary of LVM3-X/CARE, ISRO begins assembly of HLVM3 for Gaganyaan’s first un-crewed flight! A major step toward India’s maiden human spaceflight and future space ambitions.”
At 8:45 AM on December 18, the stacking of the nozzle end segment with the full flex seal nozzle of the S200 motor was completed, marking the start of the HLVM3-G1/OM-1 mission’s official launch campaign.
The LVM3-X mission, now known as HLVM3, had launched its maiden flight in 2014, carrying a 3,775 kg Crew Module to a suborbital altitude of 126 km. The module was successfully oriented for re-entry and splashed down in the Bay of Bengal, where it was recovered by the Indian Coast Guard. This Crew Module was developed as part of the early stages of the Human Spaceflight Project, prior to the official Gaganyaan project approval in 2019.
ISRO also pointed out that it was a fitting coincidence that 10 years later, on the same day, it is gearing up for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission with the assembly of the human-rated LVM3 rocket. Dr. S. Somanath, the current ISRO Chairman, was the Director of the LVM3-X/CARE mission in 2014.
The new HLVM3 rocket, an improved version of LVM3, is designed to meet human safety standards and includes a Crew Escape System (CES) to ensure crew safety during launch and separation. This system allows for safe ejection of the crew in case of an emergency.
HLVM3 is a three-stage vehicle that stands 53 meters tall and weighs 640 tonnes, with a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes to low Earth orbit (LEO). The rocket is currently being prepared for launch, with the Crew Module and related systems undergoing final checks at ISRO centers.
The success of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was instrumental in shaping the human spaceflight program, providing valuable data that contributed to the development of the Crew Module for the Gaganyaan mission, along with other tests such as pad abort, air-drop, and test vehicle flights. The new Crew Module, designed with enhanced safety features, will be flown aboard the human-rated LVM3 rocket, ensuring the safety of the astronauts.
Additionally, the Gaganyaan mission will play a key role in the development and operationalization of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).