| The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) | | | | transfer. Three development flights of GSLV have |
| is India's largest launch vehicle, intended to eventually | | | | already taken place. Once operational, all INSATs in |
| launch INSAT type communication satellites, to make | | | | future are to be launched from India soil using the |
| India less dependent on foreign rockets for INSAT | | | | GSLV.The cryogenic engine is a crucial component of |
| launches, Till now all the INSATs have been launched | | | | GSLV. It uses liquid Oxygen and liquid hydrogen |
| using foreign launch facilities at exorbitant costs. Once | | | | stored at very low temperature as propellants and |
| GSLV become operational, India will have total control | | | | produces the maximum thrust per unit weight. |
| over its INSAT program.The GSLV is a three stage | | | | Without a cryogenic upper stage, it would be |
| rocket, the first stage of which uses solid propellant | | | | impossible to place a 2500 kg satellite in to GTO. The |
| motor and second stage uses a liquid propellant | | | | GSLV will initially use cryogenic upper stage engine |
| motor. It also uses four liquid strap on boosters and | | | | supplied by Russia, but subsequently, indigenously |
| cryogenic third stage. The solid first and liquid second | | | | developed cryogenic engines will be used. ISRO has |
| stages of GSLV are carried over from the PSLV.The | | | | already designed and built a full scale cryogenic engine |
| GSLV is designed to place a payload of | | | | for use in the GSLV and tests on indigenous |
| approximately 500 kg in to an easterly low earth | | | | cryogenic engine have been successful. |
| orbit, or a 2200 kg pay load, into a geosynchronous | | | | |