Hyderabad: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set for another giant leap by designing a gigantic rocket.
In what will be its most powerful rocket yet, ISRO is in the process of developing a 40-storey high launch vehicle which can carry an unprecedented 75,000 kilograms of payload into low earth orbit (LEO).
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announced the project during the convocation ceremony of Osmania University in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
The ‘super heavy’ rocket, referred to as the N1, is expected to become the backbone of future heavy-lift operations.
“You know, what is the capacity of the rocket? The first launcher, (Dr APJ) Abdul Kalam ji, which he built was a 17 tonne lift-off mass, capable of placing 35 kg in low earth orbit. Today, we are conceiving a rocket to place 75,000 kg in low earth orbit. The rocket is of 40-storey building height,” PTI quoted Narayanan as saying.
The ISRO chief said this year, ISRO has lined up projects such as NAVIC (Navigation with India Constellation system) satellite and the N1 rocket, besides placing a 6,500 kg communication satellite of the USA into orbit using Indian rockets.
He added that ISRO plans to launch Technology Demonstration Satellite (TDS) and GSAT-7R, an Indian military communication satellite, mainly designed for the Indian Navy to replace the existing GSAT-7 (Rukmini) satellite.
Narayanan, who was presented with the honorary degree of Doctorate of Science by Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, said India currently has 55 satellites in orbit and that number will be trebled in the next three to four years.