Gaganyaan Mission 2023: S2000 human-rated rocket booster tested successfully

Gaganyaan Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation on Monday successfully completed the static test of a human-rated solid rocket booster (HS200) for the Gaganyaan programme at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
According to the Bengaluru-based space agency, the HS200 is the human-rated version of the S200 rocket booster of the satellite launch vehicle GSLV Mk III, also known as LVM3.

The successful completion of this test marks a major milestone for the prestigious human space flight mission of ISRO, the Gaganyaan, as the first stage of the launch vehicle is tested for its performance for the full duration,” it said.

ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space, S Somanath, and Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), S Unnikrishnan Nair, as well as other ISRO scientists, were present at the ceremony. The HS200 booster was designed and developed by VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram, while the propellant casting was completed at SDSC in Sriharikota. The S200 motor, which is the first stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle, was designed as a strap-on rocket booster for launching a 4,000 kg class satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The LVM3 has been selected as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission based on its successful launch history, which includes the Chandrayaan mission. It was said that the LVM3 launch vehicle was improved to meet the needs of human rating for the manned space mission.