Why this matters now
PSLV is tested for: 4 stages alternating solid + liquid — PS1 solid + PS2 liquid Vikas + PS3 solid + PS4 liquid (twin earth-storable); height 44 m mass 320 t; payload 1750 kg SSO 600 km / 1425 kg GTO; first flight PSLV-D1 20 Sept 1993 failed (software anomaly); PSLV-D2 15 Oct 1994 success; variants PSLV-G (6 boosters) / PSLV-CA Core Alone / PSLV-XL (6 stretched boosters) / PSLV-DL (2 boosters) / PSLV-QL (4 boosters); famous launches: Chandrayaan-1 22 Oct 2008 PSLV-C11, Mangalyaan 5 Nov 2013 PSLV-C25, Aditya-L1 2 Sep 2023 PSLV-C57; PSLV-C37 15 Feb 2017 launched 104 satellites world record (Cartosat-2D + 103 commercial nanosats incl 88 Planet Doves); PSLV-C45 1 Apr 2019 EMISAT first PS4 stage as orbital platform; PSLV reliability ~95%; commercial via Antrix/NSIL has launched 400+ foreign satellites.
Four stages alternating
| Stage | Propellant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PS1 | HTPB solid (139 t) | Core; surrounded by 0-6 PSOM strap-on boosters depending on variant. |
| PS2 | Liquid Vikas (UDMH+N2O4, 41 t) | Vikas engine 800 kN. |
| PS3 | HTPB solid (7.6 t) | Compact solid kick stage. |
| PS4 | Liquid twin earth-storable (MMH+MON, 2.5 t) | Restartable; also used as orbital platform (POEM) post mission. |
Variants
| Variant | Strap-ons | SSO payload |
|---|---|---|
| PSLV-G (retired) | 6 PSOM | 1600 kg |
| PSLV-CA Core Alone | 0 | 1100 kg |
| PSLV-DL | 2 | 1400 kg |
| PSLV-QL | 4 | 1700 kg |
| PSLV-XL | 6 stretched | 1750 kg |
Famous PSLV missions
- PSLV-C2 26 May 1999: India’s first commercial launch — IRS-P4 + 2 foreign (Korea KITSAT-3 + Germany DLR-Tubsat).
- PSLV-C11 22 Oct 2008: Chandrayaan-1.
- PSLV-C22 1 Jul 2013: IRNSS-1A — first NavIC satellite.
- PSLV-C25 5 Nov 2013: Mangalyaan (Mars).
- PSLV-C37 15 Feb 2017: 104 satellites in single mission — world record. Cartosat-2D + 88 Planet Doves + 8 Lemur-2 + INS-1A/1B + Israeli + Kazakh + Swiss + Dutch + UAE.
- PSLV-C45 1 Apr 2019: EMISAT + 28 customer sats; first use of PS4 as orbital platform (POEM-precursor).
- PSLV-C57 2 Sep 2023: Aditya-L1.
- PSLV-C60 30 Dec 2024: SpaDeX docking experiment + POEM.
UPSC angle
Know PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) ISRO’s WORKHORSE; 4 STAGES ALTERNATING SOLID + LIQUID PS1 (HTPB 139 t) + PS2 (Vikas UDMH-N2O4 41 t 800 kN) + PS3 (HTPB 7.6 t) + PS4 (MMH-MON 2.5 t RESTARTABLE also POEM orbital platform); height 44 m mass 320 t; payload 1750 kg SSO 600 km / 1425 kg GTO; first flight PSLV-D1 20 SEPT 1993 FAILED software anomaly; PSLV-D2 15 OCT 1994 success; VARIANTS PSLV-G 6 PSOM 1600 kg retired; PSLV-CA CORE ALONE 1100 kg; PSLV-DL 2 boosters 1400 kg; PSLV-QL 4 boosters 1700 kg; PSLV-XL 6 stretched 1750 kg; FAMOUS LAUNCHES PSLV-C2 26 MAY 1999 first commercial IRS-P4 + Korea KITSAT-3 + Germany DLR-Tubsat; PSLV-C11 22 OCT 2008 CHANDRAYAAN-1; PSLV-C22 1 JUL 2013 IRNSS-1A first NavIC; PSLV-C25 5 NOV 2013 MANGALYAAN; PSLV-C37 15 FEB 2017 104 SATELLITES SINGLE MISSION WORLD RECORD (Cartosat-2D + 88 Planet Doves + 8 Lemur-2 + INS-1A/1B + Israeli + Kazakh + Swiss + Dutch + UAE); PSLV-C45 1 APR 2019 EMISAT + 28 customer sats first PS4 ORBITAL PLATFORM POEM-precursor; PSLV-C57 2 SEP 2023 ADITYA-L1 PSLV’s longest mission ~63 min; PSLV-C60 30 DEC 2024 SpaDeX docking experiment + POEM; PSLV reliability ~95%; commercial via Antrix/NSIL launched 400+ FOREIGN SATELLITES.
Frequently asked questions
Why is PSLV called ISRO’s workhorse?
It is the most flown + most reliable Indian launcher (~95% success), used for IRS, NavIC, Mars + Moon + Sun missions, and the bulk of commercial small-sat launches via NSIL.
What was the PSLV-C37 world record?
On 15 February 2017, PSLV-C37 launched 104 satellites in a single mission — Cartosat-2D + 88 Planet Doves + 8 Lemur-2 + INS-1A/1B + Israeli, Kazakh, Swiss, Dutch + UAE small-sats. World record at the time.
What variants does PSLV come in?
PSLV-CA (Core Alone, no boosters, 1100 kg SSO), PSLV-DL (2 boosters), PSLV-QL (4 boosters), PSLV-XL (6 stretched boosters, 1750 kg SSO — most common). PSLV-G (6 PSOM) is retired.
What is POEM?
PSLV Orbital Experimental Module — reuse of PS4 stage as an orbital platform after primary payload deployment. First demonstrated PSLV-C45 (Apr 2019); refined PSLV-C53 (Jun 2022) + PSLV-C58 (Jan 2024).