Nellore: Aiming to start a manned space mission, the ISRO will launch the GSLV Mk-III in the second week of December to study its performance and carry out a crew module recovery experiment through it.
The 630-tonne launch vehicle, designated as LVM3-X, will carry CARE (Crew Module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment) weighing about 3.65 tonnes. The Isro intends to study the impact of heat on the crew module when it enters the earth atmosphere.
Briefing the media on the salient features of the experimental mission, Satish Dhawan Space Centre director, Dr M.Y.S. Prasad said that the objectives of the mission are flight validation of the complex atmospheric flight regime of LVM3 vehicle, validation of new design features and overall integrity of the mission design.
The experimental flight will provide all the inputs required for the first developmental flight of the GSLV Mark-III, which is being planned within next two years. It will carry a communication satellite of four tonne nominal payload capability.
Dr Prasad said that Care is expected to enhance their understanding on re-entry and parachute phase of crew module. The crew module, after getting separated from the launch vehicle at an altitude of 125 km, will re-enters Earth’s atmospheric at about 80 km and descend in ballistic mode.
