Why in news?
The government informed Parliament that India has completed the development and ground testing of the Human‑Rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (HLVM3) for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
What is HLVM3?
HLVM3 is the human‑rated variant of the LVM3 (GSLV Mk III) rocket. It has been redesigned to carry a crew safely into Low Earth Orbit and return them to Earth. The work is overseen by ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre.
Key features
- Three‑stage configuration: Two S200 solid boosters provide the initial thrust, followed by a liquid L110 stage and a C25 cryogenic upper stage capable of placing about 10 tonnes into orbit.
- Human‑rating enhancements: Systems are upgraded with redundancy and fault‑tolerant components. All critical parts undergo more stringent quality assurance and qualification tests.
- Crew escape system: Five types of motors enable quick escape in case of a launch abort. The system is activated from liftoff to orbital insertion.
- Crew module and service module: The crew module protects astronauts during launch and re‑entry, while the service module carries propulsion, power and life‑support systems.
- Ground infrastructure: Dedicated facilities at Sriharikota, a Gaganyaan control centre and recovery networks have been established. Test flights (TV‑D1, TV‑D2) demonstrate abort and re‑entry procedures.
Future plans
The successful development of HLVM3 paves the way for India’s first crewed mission, targeted around 2025 – 26. Beyond Gaganyaan, the rocket will support plans for a Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and a crewed lunar landing by 2040. A robust human‑rated launch system enhances India’s independent access to space and fosters new technologies in life‑support, re‑entry and human factors.