The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is India’s most reliable launch vehicle, known for its versatility in deploying satellites into multiple orbits, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), and even interplanetary missions.

First Flight: 20 September 1993 (PSLV-D1, unsuccessful)

First Successful Flight: 15 October 1994 (PSLV-D2)

First Operational Flight: 29 September 1997 (PSLV-C1, launched IRS-1D)

Manufacturer: ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)

Height: 44.4 m (145 ft 8 in.)

Lift-off Weight: ~294 tonnes

Stages: Four-stage vehicle (Two solid + Two liquid propellant stages)

Payload Capacity:

Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO): ~1,750 kg

Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO): ~1,410 kg

Low Earth Orbit (LEO): ~3,800 kg

The PSLV uses a four-stage design, alternating between solid and liquid propellants:

1. First Stage (PS1 – Solid Rocket Motor)

Propellant: HTPB-based solid propellant

Boosters: Configurations with zero, six, or two strap-on boosters

Primary Thrust Provider for lift-off

2. Second Stage (PS2 – Liquid Engine)

Engine: Vikas engine (UDMH + N2O4)

Thrust Control for Stability in atmospheric flight

3. Third Stage (PS3 – Solid Rocket Motor)

High-Energy Propellant for Altitude Gain

4. Fourth Stage (PS4 – Liquid Engine)

Two Liquid-Fuel Engines for precise orbital injection

Launch Date: 29 September 1997

Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C1

Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh

Payload: IRS-1D (Indian Remote Sensing satellite)

Orbit: Polar Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), 740 km altitude

Mission Success: Confirmed PSLV as India’s reliable satellite launcher

India’s workhorse rocket: Used for launching remote sensing, navigation, and communication satellites.

Enabled interplanetary missions: Launched Chandrayaan-1 (2008), Mangalyaan (2013), and Astrosat (2015).

High success rate: Over 50 successful launches since 1994.

Affordable and flexible: Can deploy multiple satellites in one mission.

PSLV has evolved through different versions:

1. PSLV-G (Standard version) – Used in initial launches
2. PSLV-XL – Uses six large strap-on boosters for higher payloads
3. PSLV-CA (Core-Alone) – No strap-on boosters, for lighter payloads
4. PSLV-DL, QL, RL – Variants with 2, 4, or 6 boosters, depending on mission needs