India's space agency, ISRO, has officially started assembling the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) for the first uncrewed flight of its Gaganyaan mission. This milestone was announced on Wednesday and is a significant step towards India’s first human spaceflight. The assembly is taking place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Interestingly, this event coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-X/CARE), which launched on December 18, 2014.
According to ISRO’s statement, the human-rating of LVM3 is now complete, and all systems have undergone rigorous testing for increased reliability. Both ground and flight tests have been conducted under off-nominal conditions to ensure that the vehicle meets the strict safety requirements needed for human space missions. Additionally, the Crew Escape System (CES), which ensures crew safety during all stages of ascent until the module is injected into orbit, has been added to further boost confidence in the vehicle’s safety for future manned missions.
HLVM3 is a three-stage rocket with a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Standing 53 meters tall and weighing 640 tonnes, the vehicle has been designed with safety at its core. The Crew Module, built with enhanced safety features and redundancies, will be carried on the Human-rated LVM3. The data collected during the uncrewed flights will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the manned missions.
ISRO also highlighted that the Gaganyaan program will contribute significantly to India’s space exploration future. The knowledge gained from the mission will be crucial for the development and operationalization of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), a key project in ISRO’s long-term vision for advancing the country's space capabilities.
The official launch campaign for HLVM3-G1/OM-1 began on December 18, 2024, with the stacking of the nozzle end segment along with the full flex seal nozzle of the S200 motor. The assembly of the S200 motors continues, with work on the control systems and avionics also underway. The L110 and C32 stages for HLVM3 are already ready at the launch complex. The components for the crew escape system have also been delivered to SDSC.
At the same time, the integration of the Crew Module is taking place at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), while the Service Module is being integrated at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bangalore. Further tests and integrations for the Orbital Module (OM) will follow at URSC.