Context:
First consortia in India to manufacture HAL L&T consortium for first ever private made PSLV under ISRO guidance. This celebration of the mission will mark an important date, Q3 2025, for India’s private space sector participation.
The satellite will carry the Technology Demonstration Satellite (TDS-1), which demonstrates up to 35 new indigenous technologies.
TDS-1 Key Technologies
- 300 milli Newton (mN) electric propulsion thruster (designed by ISRO‘s LPSC)
- For improved maneuverability and longevity of satellites.
- Earlier, ISRO had tested a 75 mN thruster on GSAT 9, but this will be the first fully indigenous electric propulsion system.
- Indigenous atomic clock & quantum payloads to improve precision in space applications.
- Additional chemical propulsion (in addition to electric propulsion).
Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
- Powerful new rocket, NGLV, with which ISRO is developing capability for launching larger payloads.
- It is understood that “NGLV will reduce the lift off mass to nearly 1,000 tonnes and become about 93m tall” which is comparable to a “30-35 storey building“.
Propulsion System of NGLV
- Three core stages & two strap on boosters.
- Nine LOX Methane engines (110 tonnes thrust each) in the core stage.
- Two LOX Methane engines in the second stage (128 tonnes propellant).
- LOX Hydrogen Cryogenic upper stage (C 32 engine, 32 tonnes propellant).
Present Status & Industry Collaboration
- The design for 11 LOX methane engines is finalized.
- ISRO is working on developing the subsystems in conjunction with industry partners for manufacturing activities.
- Test facilities developed in parallel.
It is progressing well with private sector collaboration in PSLV manufacturing towards the development of NGLV for heavier payloads within India’s space program. Such developments signify a new era of self reliance and competitiveness worldwide for ISRO.
