ISRO to make heavy rocket LVM3 under PPP mode after PSLV, SSLV

Chennai: Following its two rockets, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), the Indian space agency is currently considering developing its largest rocket, LVM3, using the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The LVM3 is ISRO's biggest rocket, capable of lifting four tonnes to Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO) and eight tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The Indian space agency and NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Department of Space, have begun the work to make the LVM3 under PPP mode.

A stakeholder meeting was recently held by NSIL and ISRO in which representatives from over 30 companies participated.

In 2022, NSIL had engaged Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd-Larsen and Toubro Ltd consortium to make five numbers of PSLV rockets.

Last year, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) had issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for making ISRO’s small rocket SSLV.

The status of the EoI for SSLV is not known till now.

And now, ISRO has started preparations for making LVM3 under PPP mode.

NSIL has engaged the services of IIFCL Projects Limited (IPL) to explore the potential PPP partnership options for LVM3 production through the Indian industry.

According to NSIL, the need for a PPP mode of partnership with the Indian industry to realise more numbers of LVM3 to meet the global launch service demand is essential to stay competitive and relevant in the market.

Towards this effort of NSIL and ISRO, Indian industries should come forward and become the risk-sharing and investment partners as part of the programme, the company said.

Global launch service market assessment for the decade clearly indicates that there is enough demand for launching communication satellites in GTO and satellites for mega constellations in LEO.

LVM3 has great potential and opportunity to capture this niche global launch service market in the coming years, NSIL said.

With inputs from IANS