ISRO Tests Solid Motor Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle (SOLVE)
#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Space #Current Events #National #ISRO #SOLVE #Gaganyaan Mission
Key takeaways
- ISRO successfully performed the first ground test of the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) at Sriharikota.
- The vehicle carries cargo up to an altitude between 10 km and 17 km to test re-entry conditions.
- It relies on a modified PSLV Strap-on Motor (PSOM) and Secondary Injection Thrust Vector Control (SITVC) for stable flight.
- The primary goal is testing the 10-parachute recovery sequence designed for the Gaganyaan crew module.
Why in News
- The ISRO completed the first ground test of its Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) engine at Sriharikota.
Overview of SOLVE
- Engineers designed SOLVE as a solid propellant test rocket to evaluate equipment at high altitudes without using full orbital vehicles.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) leads the design and operation of this dedicated testing platform.
Key Objectives
- The platform conducts Integrated Parachute Tests (IPT) to check the safe landing system of the Gaganyaan crew capsule.
- It carries experimental instruments to high altitudes so teams can study how hardware responds to actual flight conditions.
How SOLVE Works
- A modified solid fuel burns slowly inside the motor to ensure a smooth ascent instead of sharp acceleration.
- The launch vehicle transports the Gaganyaan test capsule up to an altitude between 10 km and 17 km.
- At peak height, the vehicle releases the capsule to expose it directly to heavy atmospheric friction and forces.
- After separation, an automated system opens 10 distinct parachutes sequentially to slow the module before landing in the ocean.
Key Engineering Features
- ISRO built SOLVE using a modified PSLV Strap-on Motor (PSOM) to lower development costs.
- Engineers formulated a slow-burning solid propellant to deliver steady thrust throughout the test phase.
- A straight nozzle paired with Secondary Injection Thrust Vector Control (SITVC) guides the vehicle along its path.
- The structure recreates realistic aerodynamic speeds and pressures to mirror actual re-entry profiles.
Uses and Applications
- The system verifies the 10-parachute recovery sequence required to return Indian astronauts safely from space.
- It lowers testing costs by avoiding the expense of full-scale multi-stage rocket launches.
- The rocket aids domestic space research in hypersonic flight, atmospheric science, and microgravity experiments.