[🇮🇳] ISRO starts assembly of HLVM3 for Gaganyaan mission at SDSC for first uncrewed flight

ISRO starts assembly of HLVM3 for Gaganyaan mission at SDSC for first uncrewed flight​

Story by TOI Science Desk
• 11h • 4 min read




ISRO starts assembly of HLVM3 for Gaganyaan mission at SDSC for first uncrewed flight
Indian Space Research Organisation continues to make significant milestones in space exploration with its continuous efforts to launch India's first crewed spaceflight under the Gaganyaan mission. The Indian astronaut called Gagannauts into space aboard Human - Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3). On Wednesday, ISRO initiated the assembly of Human - Rated Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) as a critical component of India's Gaganyaan mission which aims to achieve the country's first crewed spaceflight. This coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-X/CARE) mission as a foundational role in the Gaganyaan program mission.



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ISRO HLVM3 successfully launched on December 18​

On December 18 2024 at 8:45am, ISRO began the launch campaign for the HLVM3-G1/0M-1 featuring the full-flex seal nozzle of the S200 motor at the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota. This step acts as a major step towards the launch vehicle for the future space missions. Some of the additional components following the launch vehicle include S200 motors, control systems, and avionics to be integrated.

LVM3’s human-rating enhances safety for future missions​

HLVM3 assembly as the crucial development is the successful human rating of the LVM3 launch vehicle. The human-rating involves the rigorous testing to ensure the vehicle's systems meet the safety standards being required for the human spaceflight. All the systems have undergone extensive ground and flight tests even in off-nominal conditions to verify their performance and reliability under the human safety requirement, confirmed ISRO.



LVM3, a human rating process, ensures to handle the human-space travel complexities. The inclusion of the Crew Escape System (CES), a safety feature designed to protect astronauts during every phase of ascent, adds a layer of redundancy to the vehicle’s safety mechanisms. The CES system, which is operational from the launch pad until its separation after the atmospheric flight regime, significantly boosts the confidence in the upcoming manned missions.

Specifications of HLVM3​

• HLVM3 is a massive, three stage vehicle standing 53m tall and 640 tonnes in weight.
• Capable of carrying payloads up to 10 tonnes into Low Earth Orbit
• This crew module will be a part of the Gaganyaan mission designed with multiple redundancies and enhanced safety features to protect the astronauts.
• It can operate under the most extreme conditions of human spaceflight.

The Gaganyaan program is not only an important aspect of India's space exploration goals, but it is also a necessary precursor to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). The Gaganyaan mission's experience will be valuable in the construction and operation of India's prospective space station. ISRO's long-term strategy includes applying Gaganyaan's lessons to the development of more advanced space technology and a sustainable space infrastructure.

Development in India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program​

The LVM3-X mission, which launched on December 18, 2014, was critical in the development of India's human spaceflight program. The mission successfully transported a 3,775 kg crew module to a suborbital altitude of 126 km, where it was manoeuvred with thrusters to guarantee a successful reentry.

The module was designed as part of Gaganyaan's pre-project operations and data from this flight will have a direct impact on the design and the testing of the crew module for the subsequent mission.

Crew module to ensure safe human spaceflight for Gaganyaan​

The crew module from the Bay of Bengal on December 18 2024 was a watershed moment that confirmed the ability of the vehicle to safely return from space highlighting the importance of the mission. Information collected during the mission has been an integral part in refining the crew module and its associated systems to ensure that they are capable of supporting human spaceflight in future.

Leveraging LVM3 data to enhance the Gaganyaan mission and future of manned missions​

After the successful completion of the LVM3-X mission, ISRO has built upon the foundational data gathered during that mission. The improvement in the design of the crew module has been made and the other subsequent tests such as pad abort tests, air-drop tests, and test vehicle flights. This has provided with the valuable insights that informed the ongoing development of the crew module and other systems of the Gaganyaan mission. The data will be essential to ensure the success of the manned future missions which will ultimately allow ISRO to make necessary adjustments and improvements to the module the launch vehicle before launching astronauts into space.

Paving the path for India’s first human spaceflight​

As ISRO prepares for the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, the insights gained will be pivotal for the future of human spaceflight in India. With the human-rating of the LVM3 vehicle and the successful integration of key systems, the nation is now closer than ever to achieving its goal of sending astronauts to space. The upcoming uncrewed flight will serve as a critical testing ground for the various systems and technologies involved, paving the way for a successful manned mission.


ISRO's successful assembly of the HLVM3 vehicle and the completion of key tests mark significant progress in India’s space exploration journey. The Gaganyaan mission not only aims to send humans to space but also plays a key role in laying the foundation for more ambitious future projects, including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. The lessons learned from this program will help shape India’s space exploration goals for the coming decades.