Why Did ISRO Use PSLV for Mangalyaan Instead of GSLV?

India's National Space Agency, ISRO, made an informed and strategic decision to use the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for the Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission instead of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Despite GSLV being more powerful, several factors influenced this choice. This article delves into the reasoning behind the decision and discusses the implications for future missions.

Overview of the Mangalyaan Mission

The Mangalyaan mission, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), was a groundbreaking endeavor initiated by ISRO in November 2013. The goal was to develop and launch an interplanetary spacecraft capable of orbiting Mars, making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit.

Technical and Strategic Considerations

1. Mission Profile#160;

The trajectory required for Mangalyaan involved delivering the spacecraft to a highly elliptical orbit around Earth, in preparation for a trans-Martian injection. The PSLV was deemed more suitable for this profile, as it had the necessary capabilities to perform such a complex maneuver.

2. Reliability

At the time of the Mangalyaan launch in November 2013, the PSLV had established a strong track record with numerous successful missions. In contrast, GSLV had faced some failures, leading to ongoing reliability issues. Using PSLV ensured a higher success rate and minimized risks.

3. Cost Efficiency

PSLV was found to be more cost-effective for missions that did not require the higher payload capacity of GSLV. This alignment between mission requirements and available resources helped in keeping the overall mission costs in check. The resource allocation for PSLV was optimized for various tasks, including interplanetary missions, making it a more strategic choice.

4. Payload Capacity

The payload of Mangalyaan was within the capacity of PSLV. While GSLV has a higher payload capacity, it was not necessary for this specific mission, as the Mangalyaan spacecraft did not weigh more than the PSLV could handle. This decision also minimized the need for additional upgrades, which would have added complexity and costs.

5. Development Focus

At the time, ISRO was focused on optimizing the PSLV for a variety of missions, including interplanetary ones. PSLV had already been adapted for such missions, reducing the need for new development and ensuring a more reliable choice for ISRO.

Addressing Challenges with GSLV#160;

The failure of GSLV in 2010, coupled with issues with its cryogenic engine, raised concerns about the reliability of GSLV. Given the urgency of the Mangalyaan mission and the desire to complete the project as soon as possible, ISRO opted for PSLV to avoid delays.

Due to the limitations of the PSLV, the mission planners had to devise a strategy to launch Mangalyaan into a highly elliptical Earth orbit before using the onboard thrusters for multiple perigee burns to eventually place the satellite on a trans-Martian trajectory. This required careful planning and a reduced payload to manage the constraints of PSLV.

Conclusion and Future Prospects

In summary, ISRO's choice to use PSLV for Mangalyaan was based on a combination of proven reliability, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for the mission's specific requirements. While the use of PSLV necessitated overcoming certain challenges, the decision was strategic and well-informed.

Despite this success, there is a real need for ISRO to continue developing GSLV. Developing a more powerful launch vehicle is crucial for future missions, especially those requiring higher payload capacities and more complex trajectories. This ongoing development ensures that ISRO remains capable of meeting future challenges and advancing the nation's space exploration goals.

Key Takeaways

ISRO selected PSLV over GSLV for the Mangalyaan mission based on mission profile, reliability, cost, and payload capacity. The failure of GSLV in 2010 and issues with its cryogenic engine influenced this decision. PSLV was used to launch Mangalyaan into a highly elliptical orbit and then perform multiple perigee burns to achieve the trans-Martian injection. Future development of GSLV is necessary to handle more complex and higher payload missions.

By understanding these factors, we can appreciate the strategic decisions made by ISRO and the importance of continued investment in space technology.