L110 (thanks to Salo):
Nozzle extensions not yet installed?
GSLV-MkIII liquid stage clears testBangalore, Sept. 8Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday said its heavy-lift launcher programme GSLV-MkIII moved further ahead after a successful static testing of the liquid core stage.An earlier test in March had to be aborted 50 seconds earlier after a leak was noticed.ISRO said it was satisfied with its performance. The launcher, under development for some years now, is slated to be ready for a first flight in 2012.“Today's successful test of (the liquid second stage) L110 for its full flight duration of 200 seconds is a major milestone in the Earth storable liquid rocket programme and a significant step forward in the development of GSLV-MkIII launch vehicle,” a release said.L110 was tested at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre test facility at Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, at 3.50 p.m.The MkIII programme, taken up at a cost of nearly Rs 2,500 crore, is meant to double the GSLV's satellite lifting capacity to four tonnes. It uses two solid fuel based strap-on boosters (S200), which cleared the test in January this year; the L-110 liquid stage and the crucial cryogenic upper stage C-25.ISRO said L110 is one of the heaviest Earth storable liquid stages ever developed by ISRO.It has two high-pressure Vikas engines. Nearly 500 health parameters were monitored during the test and initial data indicate normal performance.
Successful Static Testing of L 110 Liquid Core Stage of GSLV - Mk IIIIndian Space Research Organisation successfully conducted the second static testing of its liquid core stage (L110) of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk -III) for 200 seconds at its Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) test facility at Mahendragiri on September 8, 2010 at 15:50 hrs.L110 is one of the heaviest earth storable liquid stages ever developed by ISRO. L110 stage had two high pressure Vikas engines in a clustered configuration. Nearly 500 health parameters were monitored during the test and the initial data acquired indicates its normal performance. Today`s successful test of L110 for its full flight duration of 200 seconds, is a major mile stone in the earth storable liquid rocket programme of ISRO and a significant step forward in the development of GSLV-Mk III launch vehicle.It may be recalled that GSLV-Mk III, which is currently under advanced stage of development uses two solid strap on boosters (S200), L-110 liquid stage and a cryogenic upper stage C-25.
India is also designing a cryogenic stage for the third-generation GSLV slated to debut in 2012 or 2013. The GSLV Mk.3 will be powered by a third stage consuming double the propellant of the indigenous GSLV Mk.2 engine that is now the focus of ISRO's rocket engineers.
There has been an update on the progress of the GSLV Mk-III programme in the Indian Parliament - http://isro.gov.in/parliament/2011/Budget/LUSQ3347.pdf1. They plan a second static test of the solid first stage S-200 in mid-2011.2. The work of developing C-25, the cryogenic engine which powers the 3rd stage of the Mk-III is currently progressing. They have completed and tested the turbopumps and the gas generator and are working on the thrust chamber. If all goes well, they hope to test the C-25 by the end of 2011. This is different from the GSLV Mk-II and so, I think the Mk-II is also expected to be seperately tested this year.Pradeep
2. The work of developing C-25, the cryogenic engine which powers the 3rd stage of the Mk-III is currently progressing. They have completed and tested the turbopumps and the gas generator and are working on the thrust chamber. If all goes well, they hope to test the C-25 by the end of 2011.
ISRO thinks that the GSLV Mk-III vehicle could be test flown in 2012-13 time frame (April 2012 - March 2013). It would be interesting to see which satellite would serve as payload on the vehicle.GSAT-10 or GSAT-11 look like prime candidates for the vehicle.Pradeep
“PSLV C-17 will be launched in July and it will carry GSAT-12, a communication satellite. PSLV-C18 will be launched in September and it will carry a weather forecast satellite. PSLV-C19 with a payload of Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) will be launched by this year end,” Mr. Chandradathan {Director, Sathish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota} said.“Recently launched PSLV-C16 precisely injected its payloads into intended orbits without wasting even a bit of propellant,” he said.Later speaking to reporters, Mr. Chandradathan said that building of GSLV-Mk III will be over by 2012 end and launch would be in the next year.“GSLV-Mk III has three stages. The first stage, Solid propellant booster S-200 has been tested and qualified; Second and liquid propellant stage called L-110 has also been tested. Work is yet to be completed in third and important stage, the cryogenic stage,” he said.
