Unified Launch Vehicle
The Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV) is a development project by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) whose core objective is to design a modular architecture that could eventually replace the PSLV, GSLV Mk I/II and GSLV Mk III with a single family of launchers.[1] The design may include a heavy-lift variant dubbed HLV, consisting of the SC-160 stage and two solid rocket boosters, as well as a super heavy-lift variant called SHLV with a cluster stage of five SCE-200 engines .[1][12] As SCE-200 will only fly after the successful completion of the Gaganyaan program, the launcher will not fly before 2022.[4]
| Function | Medium- to Heavy-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Indian Space Research Organisation[1] |
| Country of origin | India |
| Size | |
| Mass | 270,000 to 700,000 kg (600,000 to 1,540,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO[2] | |
| Mass | 6 × S-13 : 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) 2 × S-60 : 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) 2 × S-139 : 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) 2 × S-200 : 15,000 kg (33,000 lb) HLV (Variant) : 20,000 kg (44,000 lb) SHLV (Variant) : 41,300 kg (91,100 lb) |
| Payload to GTO[3] | |
| Mass | 6 × S-13 : 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) 2 × S-60 : 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) 2 × S-139 : 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) 2 × S-200 : 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) HLV (Variant) : 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) SHLV (Variant) : 16,300 kg (35,900 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| First flight | After 2022[4] |
| Boosters – S-13[5][6][7] | |
| No. boosters | 6 |
| Length | 12 m (39 ft)[8] |
| Diameter | 1 m (3 ft 3 in)[8] |
| Propellant mass | 13,000 kg (29,000 lb)[8] |
| Motor | S-13 |
| Thrust | 716 kN (161,000 lbf)[8] |
| Burn time | 80 seconds[8] |
| Fuel | HTPB |
| Boosters – S-60[5][6] | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Propellant mass | 60,000 kg (130,000 lb) |
| Motor | S-60 |
| Fuel | HTPB |
| Boosters – S-139[5][6] | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Length | 20.1 m (66 ft)[9] |
| Diameter | 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)[9] |
| Propellant mass | 138,200 kg (304,700 lb)[9] |
| Motor | S-139 |
| Thrust | 4,700 kN (1,100,000 lbf)[10] |
| Burn time | 100 seconds[9] |
| Fuel | HTPB |
| Boosters – S-200 | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Length | 25 m (82 ft)[11] |
| Diameter | 3.2 m (10 ft)[11] |
| Propellant mass | 207,000 kg (456,000 lb)[11] |
| Motor | S-200 |
| Thrust | 4,658 kN (1,047,000 lbf) each |
| Total thrust | 9,316 kN (2,094,000 lbf)[11] |
| Specific impulse | 274.5 (vacuum)[11] |
| Burn time | 130 sec[11] |
| Fuel | HTPB[11] |
| Core stage – SC-160 | |
| Propellant mass | 160,000 kg (350,000 lb) |
| Engines | SCE-200[6] |
| Thrust | SL: 1,820 kN (410,000 lbf) Vac: 2,030 kN (460,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | SL: 299 s (2.93 km/s) Vac: 335 s (3.29 km/s) |
| Burn time | 259 sec |
| Fuel | Kerosene / LOX |
| Upper stage – C-30 | |
| Propellant mass | 30,000 kg (66,000 lb) |
| Engines | CE-20[6] |
| Thrust | 200 kN (45,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 443 s (4.34 km/s) |
| Burn time | 650 sec |
| Fuel | LH2 / LOX |
Design
As of May 2013, based on ISRO data, the design comprised a common core and upper stage, with four different booster sizes.[13] All four versions of the boosters are solid motors, with at least three versions reusing current motors from the PSLV, GSLV Mk I/II and LVM3.[5] The core, known as the SC160 (Semi-Cryogenic stage with 160 tonnes of propellant, in the ISRO nomenclature), would have 160,000 kg (350,000 lb) of Kerosene / LOX propellant and be powered by a single SCE-200 rocket engine. The upper stage, known as the C30 (Cryogenic stage with 30 tonnes of propellant) would have 30,000 kg (66,000 lb) of LH2 / LOX propellant and be powered by a single CE-20 engine.[1][12]
The four booster options are:
- 6 × S-13, slightly larger than the S-12 on PSLV, to burn longer;
- 2 × S-60, which appears to be a new solid motor development;
- 2 × S-139, which is the first stage of PSLV and GSLV Mk I/II;
- 2 × S-200, like on the LVM3.
Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV-Variant):-
A potential heavy-lift variant (HLV) of the unified launcher capable of placing up to 10 ton class of spacecraft into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit would include:[1][14][12]
- A larger dual S-250 solid strap-on boosters as compared to the S-200 boosters used in LVM3;
- A L-400 semi-cryogenic core stage, with 400 tonnes of propellant, using a cluster of five SCE-200 engines;
- A L-27 cryogenic third stage, with 27 tonnes of propellant, using CE-20 engine.
Comparable rockets
See also
References
- Brügge, Norbert. "ULV (LMV3-SC)". B14643.de. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- "ULV". www.b14643.de.
- "ULV". www.b14643.de.
- "Episode 90 – An update on ISRO's activities with S Somanath and R Umamaheshwaran". AstrotalkUK. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- "ISRO Unified Launch Vehicle (ULV)". NASAspaceflight. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- Brügge, Norbert. "Propulsion ULV". B14643.de. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- "PSLV". ISRO. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- PSLV-C28 DMC3 Mission Brochure (PDF). ISRO. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- GSLV-D5 GSAT-14 Mission Brochure (PDF). ISRO. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- "GSLV". ISRO. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- "LVM3". ISRO. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- Brügge, Norbert. "LVM3, ULV & HLV". B14643.de. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- "ISRO Unified Launch Vehicle Update". Antariksh Space. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ""Indigenous Development of Materials for Space Programme" By Dr A. S. Kiran Kumar Presentation Slides. Indian Institute Of Science iisc.ernet.in Date: 21 August 2015".
