Are you sure that this is the PSLV-3S (core alone variant minus second stage, if I understand correctly)? The CA variant is around 230 t in mass and the second stage is only around 40 t, very far from the 100 t figure quoted.I also doubt that any rocket with multiple segments solid stages can be prepared in 3 days and somehow shaves 90% of cost magically.
Preliminary work to design and develop an ambitious small launch vehicle began about three months ago
And the launcher should be able to put satellites of up to 500-600 kg in orbits close to the Earth
VSSC has designed the vehicle using the rocket technology that it already has and is awaiting ISRO’s approval
We are looking at having a demonstration launch in a year, in the 2018-19 time frame,
The development cost would be kept low at a few crore as the new launcher’s requirement of advanced electronics is considerably lower
A small launcher that can be got up perhaps in three days by a small team
According to Sivan, the preliminary design for the proposed four-stage rocket that would weigh around 100 tonnes is ready and its feasibility study has also been conducted
Sivan said the first rocket would be ready in two years once the project gets the necessary approvals.
The first of Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) 'baby rockets' in the making is likely to take to the skies in the first half of 2019, top officials of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) said. Though a formal approval for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) project is still awaited, VSSC here at Thumba - ISRO's nodal agency for launch vehicles - has already started work on it, VSSC director K Sivan said.
On the launchpad, the SSLV will stand half as tall as a regular Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and weigh in the neighbourhood of 100 tonnes, Sivan said. "A PSLV weighs over 300 tonnes. The SSLV's weight would be around 100 tonnes and its height, 20-25 metres," he said. The PSLV, often dubbed the reliable workhorse of the ISRO, stands 44 metres tall in comparison.
The SSLV will place small satellites in the Low Earth Orbit "orbits with altitudes up to 2,000 km. "We hope to have the first flight of the SSLV in the first half of 2019. Across the globe, satellites are 'shrinking'. Now, small satellites go aboard the PSLV or GSLV as 'piggyback' payloads alongside bigger ones," Sivan said.The mission cost will be roughly one-tenth that of a PSLV mission. ISRO is planning to have the SSLV flying fully on solid fuel, but the technicalities have to be worked out, Sivan said. If things go as planned, the SSLV will be ISRO's smallest launch vehicle.
Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to "SSLV set to launch by 2019"
Quote from: Skyrocket on 01/02/2018 10:11 amPerhaps the title of the thread should be changed to "SSLV set to launch by 2019"The article says first half of 2019. So, are there any Indian ICBMs that are about 100 t? The Agni III and Agni V are only 50 t. Agni VI is 55 to 70 t and is still is in development.
"Beyond these, we are developing a new launch vehicle to put small satellites to space.We want to hand over its technology and production to industry right from the beginning after doing one or two technology demonstration flights. We will do this through [ISRO's business entity] Antrix Corporation."
...will be ready for launch by 2019. It will be able to carry 500kg - 700kg to LEO and will cost 1/10th the amount of a normal PSLV...
Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/16/2018 10:27 amCan someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?2m diameter matches the Agni-3/5 series; but none of the motor lengths match, as far as I can tell.
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/16/2018 10:27 amLooks like we have the first info of the composition of this new launcher:https://twitter.com/orfonline/status/964400636279205888Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?The S85 looks like it is composed of various motor segments from the S139 which forms the first stage of PSLV and GSLV MK-2. The S-7 is the third stage of PSLV. S-4 seems to be a new motor. The optional fourth stage is the PS4 from PSLV. It looks like a very cost effective launch vehicle. I would put the cost at less then $5 million per launch.
Looks like we have the first info of the composition of this new launcher:https://twitter.com/orfonline/status/964400636279205888Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?