Polar Satellite launch is about 44 m long and weighing about 275 tonnes. It is being developed in four stages. It has heralded a new era in the country’s space programme. This launch vehicle has revolutionized the Indian Remote Sensing satellite mission. This is also helped to demonstrate the capability to launch and place IRS type satellite with almost l/3rd cost.

India’s Polar Launch Satellite Vehicle is proving to be hugely versatile launcher has successfully carried more than 10 satellites and ejected them with precision into their designated orbit. Since its first successful launch in 1994, the rocket has gone from strength to strength.

Last year the highly dependable rockets have placed Chandrayaan-I India’s first lunar probe on the first leg voyage to moon. In its first successful flight, it carried a satellite weighing about 800 kg. Since then scientists and engineers of ISRO have steadily developed the launchers capabilities and today the rocket can carry a payload that is twice as heavy.

The availability of this launcher has been a crucial factor in Indian space programme as ISRO now being able to set up a large constellation of earth-observation stallites. These satellites produce data that serve practical purposes, from better crop acreage estimation to providing inputs for disaster relief. Recent launching of CARTOSAT- 2 A has proved further ambitious plan of Indian space.

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However, the development of PSLV in India has taken place in four stages such as:-

Stage-I:

It is solid fuel based which used Hydroxyl Terminated poly Butadiene. It used special alloy based on iron and nickel with high strength and ductility that can withstand tremendous pressure.

Stage-II:

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This uses indigenous Vikas Engine, based on Viking engine of Ariane-4 of France. It was the first rocket in India based on liquid fuel. The fuel used is Unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine.

Stage-Ill:

It is solid fuel based. In this stage a special alloy known as polyaramide fiber also known as Kevlar being used.

Stage-IV:

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It is liquid fuel based which used mono-Methyl Hydrazine as fuel. This stage of PSLV is capable of launching upto 1600 satellites into on 620 km polar orbit. It has provision to launch payloads from 100kg micro-satellites or mini or small satellites in different combination. The latest launch of PSLV are CARTOSAT 2A, HAMSAT etc.