HAL's Aerospace Division is progressively enhancing its ability to build and integrate space hardware on behalf of ISRO. As the Indian military's dependence on space based assets grow, there will inevitably arise a need for an entity that specialises in integrating and launching military assets. When that happens, HAL may well be the logical choice
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLVMk III) that successfully placed the GSAT-19 communication satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GSTO) on its maiden developmental flight on June 5, 2017 was made in large part at HAL’s Aerospace Division in Bengaluru.
All the structural assemblies and propellant tanks of GSLV Mk III - India’s heaviest launcher - were produced at HAL’s Aerospace Division. The public sector aerospace company produced the tallest ever payload fairing to protectively encapsulate the fragile GSAT-19 satellite and the launcher’s guidance and control system during the launch phase.
The two S-200 solid propellant rocket motors that constituted the first stage of the three stage Mk III launcher were integrated by HAL and stacked directly on to the launch pad.
The S-200 motor (200 ton propellant, 25m length) is the third largest solid propellant booster in the world - after the US Space Shuttle’s booster (440 ton, 37.8m) and Europe’s Ariane (240 ton, 31.6m).
This story is from the July 2017 edition of Geopolitics.
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This story is from the July 2017 edition of Geopolitics.
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