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After back-to-back failures, Isro successfully tests modified PSLV 3rd stage

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The testing at Sriharikota evaluated redesigns to the solid motor, such as reinforced interfaces and sealing redundancy, to address the third-stage burn failures. In addition to hardware updates, technicians revised raw material standards, motor assembly procedures, and non-destructive testing protocols during integration and transportation. Agency officials will now perform a detailed analysis of the ground test data before scheduling further validation tests. This thorough review aims to restore operational reliability to the four-stage launch system.

Key points

  • Ground static testing at Sriharikota verified redesigned components intended to restore t…: Ground static testing at Sriharikota verified redesigned components intended to restore the launch vehicle's operational reliability.
  • Quality control procedures, motor assembly protocols, and non-destructive testing standar…: Quality control procedures, motor assembly protocols, and non-destructive testing standards were systematically overhauled alongside hardware redesigns.
  • Detailed analysis of ground test data will dictate the schedule for future testing before…: Detailed analysis of ground test data will dictate the schedule for future testing before the vehicle returns to active service.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Isro successfully tests modified PSLV third stage after two consecutive launch failures, with further checks planned.

BENGALURU: In an important step towards restoring the reliability of its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Isro Thursday said it successfully conducted a ground static test of the rocket’s modified third stage (PS3) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota.The test, conducted on Thursday, follows two consecutive PSLV mission failures in which anomalies were observed in the rocket’s third stage. Isro said it had comprehensively reviewed the stage’s design margins, raw material acceptance criteria, assembly procedures and quality checks before introducing modifications to strengthen the system.Isro said the modified PS3 solid motor incorporates improvements to its nozzle configuration and mechanical interfaces, along with additional redundancy in its sealing systems. The space agency has also revised procedures for accepting raw materials, assembling the motor and conducting non-destructive tests (NDT) during integration and transportation.The mechanical interfaces have also been strengthened, with redundancy introduced in the sealing systems. Isro said the adequacy of design margins had been verified and updated non-destructive testing procedures had…

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