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ISRO · Operational · in · Launch Vehicle

PSLV

India's workhorse small/medium-lift launcher; PSLV-C61 partial failure in May 2025.

Verified 2026-06-17 · First flight 1993-09-20

Operator page

Systems cutaway

Systems
PSLV — systems cutaway schematicPropulsion
S139 solid S1; Vikas liquid S2 (UDMH/N2O4); S3 solid; PS4 liquid S4; 6× PSOM-XL strap-ons in XL config; 4,800 kN liftoff thrust (XL).
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Structures
2.8 m core diameter; 44.4 m height; four-stage alternating solid/liquid.
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PSLV44.4 m
Propulsion

S139 solid S1; Vikas liquid S2 (UDMH/N2O4); S3 solid; PS4 liquid S4; 6× PSOM-XL strap-ons in XL config; 4,800 kN liftoff thrust (XL).

Structures

2.8 m core diameter; 44.4 m height; four-stage alternating solid/liquid.

Specs & Metrics

Payload to LEO ↑ better
1,750 kg
PSLV-XL variant to 600 km SSO
Maximum payload mass deliverable to low Earth orbit (~200–400 km circular), in the vehicle's stated reference configuration.
Liftoff Thrust ↑ better
4800 kN
PSLV-XL first stage thrust
Total first-stage thrust at liftoff (sea-level), in kilonewtons, summing all active engines and solid strap-ons.
Liftoff Mass ↓ better
320 t
PSLV-XL variant
Total vehicle mass at liftoff including propellant, payload, and all stages, in metric tonnes.
Vehicle Height ↓ better
44.4 m
PSLV-XL
Full stack height at liftoff, in metres, including fairing or spacecraft.
Launches in 2025 ↑ better
1
PSLV-C61 on May 18, 2025 (mission failure — third stage anomaly)
Total number of launch attempts conducted in calendar year 2025 (Jan 1 – Dec 31 UTC).

Subsystems

propulsion

S139 solid S1; Vikas liquid S2 (UDMH/N2O4); S3 solid; PS4 liquid S4; 6× PSOM-XL strap-ons in XL config; 4,800 kN liftoff thrust (XL).

structures

2.8 m core diameter; 44.4 m height; four-stage alternating solid/liquid.