Isro should now aim for ‘human space flight and reusable rocket’

hyderabad — With the successful launch of its heaviest rocket, Isro now needs to focus on human space flight mission, further development of semi-cryogenic engine and recoverable and reusable launch system, the space agency’s former chief G Madhavan Nair said.

“Couple of launches of GSLV Mark III have to be done so that we prove our reliability, and simultaneously start the programme for our manned mission (human space flight) and then of course semicryogenic project,” Nair said.

“If you want to have an ecofriendly rocket, more efficient rocket system for the future, from that point of view semi-cryogenic is very important,” Nair said.

“Semi-cryogenic engine should become a replacement for some of the boosters in the days to come,” he said.

According to Isro officials, the

Couple of launches of GsLV Mark III have to be done so that we prove our reliability G Madhavan Nair, former ISRO chief

space agency has been working on some critical technologies in recent years for the human spaceflight mission.

They said the semi-cryogenic project envisages the design and development of a 2,000 kN semicryogenic engine for a future heavy-lift launch vehicle. This engine uses a combination of liquid oxygen and a propellant-grade kerosene, which are eco-friendly and cost- effective propellants.

They said preliminary details of the overall stage configuration and stage engineering of semi-cryo stage with 200 tonne propellant loading has been worked out.

Nair said, “The ultimate goal of having a recoverable and reusable launch system... that we cannot forget, we should be working towards that.”

He said GSLV Mark III, capable of launching four-tonne class satellites, is a cost-effective vehicle.

“Four tonne is really the class of payload which meets the most of the communication satellite requirements,” he said.