Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

India is a growing space power, and launch is a key foundation for India's growth. Developing an indigenous launch capability was a top priority to ensure India could launch indigenously developed spacecraft that would help connect and educate all of India. India developed several versatile space launch vehicles that enable India to launch satellites for civil and eventually military purposes. India is also expanding their presence on the commercial space launch market. The purpose of this article was to review and discuss the history India's space launch vehicles. The article provides insights into the drivers of the development of each vehicle along with their successes and failures. The article concludes with a discussion of the future of India's governmental space launch vehicles and commercial space launch endeavors.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Sheehan

The International Politics of Space. London; New York: Routledge, 2007, p. 147.

Nardon

Developed space programmes. In Sadeh E (ed.). The Politics of Space: A Survey. New York: Routledge, 2011, p. 73.

Thomas

RGC.

India's Nuclear and Space Programs: Defense or development?. World Polit. 1986; 38(2):339.

Rao

UR.

India's Rise as a Space Power. Delhi, India: Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Nagappa

Development of Space Launch Vehicles in India. Astropolitics. 2016; 14(2–3):158–76.

Harvey

, Smid

HHF

, Pirard

Emerging Space Powers: The New Space Programs of Asia, the Middle East and South-America. Chichester, UK: Praxis Publishing, 2010.

Aliberti

India in Space: Between Utility and Geopolitics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2018.

Vijayasekhara Reddy

India's Forays into Space: Evolution of its Space Programme. Int Stud. 2008; 45(3):240–41.

Misty

India's Emerging Space Power. Pac Aff. 1998; 71(2):156.

10.

Suresh

BN.

The Indian Space Launch Program. In Schrogl K, Hays PL, Robinson J, et al. (eds.). Handbook of Space Security: Policies, Applications, and Programs, Volume II. New York: Springer, 2015, p. 927.

11.

Clark

India's PSLV lifts off on first flight since fairing failure. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/12/pslv-c-40-coverage/ (Last accessed on January 12, 2018).

12.

Indian Space Research Organisation. List of PSLV launches. https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/list-of-pslv-launches (Last accessed on April 15, 2020).

13.

Moltz

JC.

Asia's Space Race: National Motivations, Regional Rivalries, and International Risks. New York: Columbia University Press, 2012, p. 121.

14.

Kyle

GSLV. https://www.spacelaunchreport.com/gslv.html (Last accessed on July 9, 2020).

15.

Indian Space Research Organisation. GSLV-D3 failure analysis report. https://www.isro.gov.in/update/09-jul-2010/gslv-d3-failure-analysis-report (Last accessed on July 9, 2020).

16.

Clark

India tests upgraded engine tech in successful communications satellite launch. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/29/india-tests-upgraded-engine-tech-in-successful-communications-satellite-launch/ (Last accessed on April 21, 2020).

17.

Clark

Indian space program closes out year with launch of upgraded GSLV. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/12/19/indian-space-program-closes-out-year-with-launch-of-upgraded-gslv/ (Last accessed on April 21, 2020).

18.

Indian Space Research Organisation. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/gslv (Last accessed on April 21, 2020).

19.

Clark

Indian rocket failure blamed on upper stage malfunction. https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/08/12/indian-rocket-failure-blamed-on-upper-stage-malfunction/ (Last accessed on August 12, 2021).

20.

Indian Space Research Organisation. ISRO achievements—2002. https://www.isro.gov.in/update/31-dec-2002/isro-achievements-2002 (Last accessed on April 21, 2020).

21.

Zak

Ukraine to test components of a powerful Indian rocket engine. www.russianspaceweb.com/rd810.html (Last accessed on April 22, 2020).

22.

Indian Space Research Organisation. GSLV Mk III. https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/gslv-mk-iii (Last accessed on April 22, 2020).

23.

Kyle

LVM3 (GSLV Mk 3). https://www.spacelaunchreport.com/gslvmk3.html (Last accessed on April 22, 2020).

24.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. GSLV MkIII project. https://www.vssc.gov.in/VSSC/index.php/launchers/gslv-mkiii (Last access on March 21, 2020).

25.

Singh

ISRO developing technology to reuse first & second stages of rocket. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isro-developing-technology-to-reuse-first-second-stages-of-rocket/articleshow/67532655.cms (Last accessed on January 15, 2020).

26.

Indian Space Research Organisation. Reusable Launch Vehicle—Technology Demonstration Program (RLV-TD). https://www.isro.gov.in/technology-development-programmes/reusable-launch-vehicle-technology-demonstration-program-rlv-td (last accessed on November 19, 2019).

27.

Indian Space Research Organisation. RLV-TD. https://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/rlv-td (Last accessed on November 19, 2019).

28.

Singh

Manned mission: ISRO to hold 2nd test of reusable launch vehicle next year. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/manned-mission-isro-to-hold-2nd-test-of-reusable-launch-vehicle-next-year/articleshow/65377953.cms (Last accessed on November 19, 2019).

29.

Kumar

ISRO plans orbital re-entry test for re-usable vehicle [India]. https://search.proquest.com/docview/2028568364?accountid=11558 (Last accessed on November 19, 2019).

30.

Messier

India developing new spaceport for small payloads. www.parabolicarc.com/2020/01/02/india-developing-new-spaceport-for-small-payloads/ (Last accessed on January 2, 2020).

31.

Lele

Space security dilemma: India and China. Astropolitics. 2019; 17(1):33.

32.

Sorensen

Spaceflight Inc., Purchases and Fully Manifests First-Ever Commercial SSLV Mission from Newspace India Limited (NSIL), the Commercial Arm of ISRO, India. https://spaceflight.com/spaceflight-inc-purchases-and-fully-manifests-first-ever-commercial-sslv-mission-from-newspace-india-limited-nsil-the-commercial-arm-of-isro-india/ (Last accessed on May 1, 2020).

33.

Weitering

Space calendar 2021: Rocket launches, sky events, missions and more! https://www.space.com/32286-space-calendar.html (Last accessed on January 25, 2021).

34.

NewSpace India Limited. Small satellite launch vehicle brochure. http://nsilindia.co.in/sites/default/files/u1/SSLV%20Technical%20Brochure%20V12.pdf (Last accessed on April 22, 2020).

35.

Mohammed

ISRO's Antrix Eyes Rs 1,500–2,000cr revenue from small satellite launchers. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2018/aug/31/isros-antrix-eyes-rs-1500-2000cr-revenue-from-small-satellite-launchers-1865440.html (Last accessed on April 22, 2020).

36.

Government of India Department of Space. Annual Report 2019–2020. https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/flipping_book/annual_report_2019-20_english/files/assets/common/downloads/Annual%20Report%202019-20%20(English).pdf (Last accessed on June 1, 2020).

37.

Foust

Spaceflight purchases first commercial flight of new Indian small launcher. https://spacenews.com/spaceflight-purchases-first-commercial-flight-of-new-indian-small-launcher/ (Last accessed on April 23, 2020).

38.

Kunde

ISRO reveals plans for next generation heavy launch vehicles. https://idrw.org/isro-reveals-plans-for-next-generation-heavy-launch-vehicle/ (Last accessed on October 1, 2021).

39.

Somanath

An evening with Dr. S. Somanath, regional science centre and planetarium Calicut. youtube.com/watch?v=sfvoVMyptYI (Last accessed October 2, 2021).

40.

Somanath

, Guest Lecture

Series

. Technovanza VJTI

GLS

, Time stamp 23:30 and 25:00. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiuaVtGao9o (Last accessed October 1, 2021).

41.

Spacewatch Asia Pacific. India's ISRO seeking to develop ADMIRE VTVL reusable launch vehicle. https://spacewatch.global/2018/12/indias-isro-seeking-to-develop-admire-vtvl-reusable-launch-vehicle/ (Last accessed on October 2, 2021).

42.

Prasad

Traditional Space and NewSpace Industry in India: Current outlook and perspectives for the future. In Rajagopalan RP, Nagendra NP (eds.). Space India 2.0: Commerce, Policy, Security and Governance Perspectives. New Delhi: Observer Research Foundation, 2017, p. 11.

43.

Rajagopalan

, Mohan

, Krishna

. India in the Final Frontier: Strategy, Policy and Industry. New Delhi: Observer Research Foundation, 2020, p. 12.

44.

Antrix Corporation. Launch services. www.antrix.gov.in/business/launch-services (Last accessed on April 22, 2020).

45.

Singh

Antrix CMD: Industry must help raise India's share in $360 billion global satellite market. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/industry-role-must-to-raise-indias-share-in-360-billion-global-sat-market-antrix-cmd/articleshow/72288228.cms (Last accessed on November 29, 2019).

46.

Times Now

News

. Adani, L&T in Fray for first non-ISRO

PSLV contract for end-to-end vehicle construction

. https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/article/adani-lt-in-fray-for-first-non-isro-pslv-contract-for-end-to-end-vehicle-construction/804419 (Last accessed October 3, 2021).

47.

Giri

. India's catalytic reforms for space 2.0 era. J Indo Pac

Aff

. 2021. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/JIPA/Display/Article/2527968/indias-catalytic-reforms-for-space-20-era/. (Last accessed on October 3, 2021).

48.

Madhumathi

DS.

Space companies await the fineprint of reforms with big hope. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/space-companies-await-the-fineprint-of-reforms-with-big-hope/article31605940.ece (Last accessed on May 17, 2020).

49.

Safi

India launches record-breaking 104 satellites from single rocket. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/feb/15/india-launches-record-breaking-104-satellites-from-single-rocket (Last accessed on May 17, 2020).

50.

Berger

Rocket Report: A New Space Race in India, Elon's hat is safe for now. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/05/rocket-report-a-new-space-race-in-india-elons-hat-is-safe-for-now/ (Last accessed on May 21, 2021).

51.

Agnikul. Products. https://agnikul.in/#/products (Last accessed April 30, 2021).

52.

ET Bureau. Anand Mahindra Backs Space Startup Agnikul Cosmos. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/funding/anand-mahindra-backs-space-startup-agnikul-cosmos/articleshow/80785521.cms?from=mdr (Last accessed on February 10, 2021).

53.

Skyroot. Vikram series. https://skyroot.in/launch-vehicle/ (Last accessed April 30, 2021).

54.

Etherington

Skyroot successfully test fires India's first privately—made solid rocket stage. https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/29/skyroot-successfully-test-fires-indias-first-privately-made-solid-rocket-stage/ (Last accessed on December 29, 2020).

55.

Gill

India's first private player to successfully test a homegrown rocket engine is on track for its first full rocket launch by 2021. https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/skyroot-aerospace-successfully-tests-homegrown-rocket-engine-is-on-track-for-its-first-full-rocket-launch-by-2021/articleshow/77506716.cms (Last accessed on April 30, 2021).

56.

Henry

Indian Startup Bellatrix Aerospace Raises $3 Million. https://spacenews.com/indian-startup-bellatrix-aerospace-raises-3-million/ (Last accessed on September 28, 2021).

57.

The Economic Times. What makes India so successful in space launch business. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/science-technology/what-makes-india-so-successful-in-space-launch-business/low-cost-edge/slideshow/57165772.cms (Last accessed on September 28, 2021).

A Review of Indian Space Launch Capabilities

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References