Article Posted on : - Sep 09, 2010

The second liquid Stage of the GSLV-Mk III called the L110. A ISRO file photo.

BANGALORE (PTI): Indian Space Research Organisation Wednesday successfully conducted static testing of its liquid core stage (L110) of launch vehicle GSLV -Mk III for 200 seconds.

L110 is one of the heaviest earth storable liquid stages developed by ISRO. It has two high pressure Vikas engines in a clustered configuration, the ISRO said in a statement.

Nearly 500 health parameters were monitored during the test at 1550 hours conducted at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre test facility at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

Initial data indicated normal performance.

"The successful test of L110 for its full flight duration of 200 seconds is a major milestone in the earth storable liquid rocket programme of ISRO and a significant step forward in the development of GSLV-Mk III launch vehicle," the space agency said.

GSLV -Mk III, currently under advanced development stage, uses two solid strap-on boosters (S200), L110 liquid stage and a cryogenic upper stage C-25.

The space agency first conducted the test for 150 seconds at LPSC test facility on March 5.

While the test was originally targeted for 200 seconds, it was stopped at 150 seconds since a deviation in one of the parameters -- minor leakage in the command system -- was observed.

Measuring 17 metres in length and four metres in diameter, L110 is an earth storable liquid propellant stage with propellant loading capacity of 110 tons.

India's PSLV and GSLV so far used one Vikas engine, but the heavy-rocket GSLV Mk III under development needs much better thrust. Hence two Vikas engines were being used for the first time, the statement said.