Union cabinet approves Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) for India’s space aspirations
The NGLV will be useful in future Indian space programs such as the Indian space station known as ‘Bharatiya Antariksh Station’.
For a change in the India space market, the Union Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned to build the next generation launch vehicle (NGLV). The NGLV will be useful in future Indian space programs such as the Indian space station known as ‘Bharatiya Antariksh Station,’ as well as the long-term lunar expedition planned for 2040.
The NGLV will enhance the payload carrying capability by a very high margin, that is; NGLV has threefold more payload capability than the existing LVM3 vehicle; and the cost of NGLV will remain 1. 5 times of the existing costs. Also, the NGLV would have reusable product components and modular green propulsion systems to afford the space launch service at a relatively lower cost and in the safest way to the environment.
The NGLV will be built to a maximum gross lifter vehicle capacity of 30 tonne to LEO with a first stage reusable.
This is an improvement from India’s current capacity, which involves launching up to 10 tonne satellites to LEO and 4 tonnes to GTO using existing launch vehicles such as; PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, and SSLV. The NGLV development project however will be brought into force with maximum involvement of the Indian industry and unlike some other countries, maximum investment in the manufacturing capability at the beginning itself so that there is smooth transition to the actual implementation phase after development.
NGLV shall be further exemplified through three development flights which include D1, D2, and D3 in taking a total of 96 months or 8 years to accomplish the development phase. The demonstration phase of NGLV under its development phase will include three flights to be completed over the next eight years with the total project cost of Rs 8,240 crore. This funding will cater for the formative, proof flight, setting up standard accommodation and control, campaign management and take-off costs.
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