(a) whether there has been any delay in the development of GSLV MK- III launch vehicle;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the details of time and cost overruns;
(c) the per launch cost of the launcher; and
(d) the maximum number of satellites that can be carried per launch and the total launch capacity in terms of weight?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) The GSLV MkIII programme was initiated in 2002 as a heavy-lift launch vehicle to launch communications satellites weighing up to 4 tons into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) within a time frame of 7 years. The development of major systems such as the S200 booster containing 207 tonnes of solid propellant and the L110 liquid propellant core stage have been completed and successfully flight tested during the experimental flight (LVM3-X) in December 2014. The development of the C25 Cryogenic stage has been delayed, mainly due to technological complexities and iterative process involved in development and testing.
The original project cost of Rs.2498.00 Crores has been revised to Rs.2962.78 Crores. The additional fund requirement of Rs.464.78 Crores is mainly due to cost escalation in the project elements, modifications in design, new elements etc, and also due to the augmentation in the original scope of the Project by including an experimental flight (LVM3-X) to validate the critical atmospheric regime. The first developmental flight of GSLV MkIII is targeted by the end of 2016.
(c) The present estimate of unit cost of the launcher is Rs.232 Crores.
(d) GSLV MkIII has the capability of launching up to 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The maximum number of satellites that can be carried per launch varies depending on the volume and weight of the satellites.
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