Context
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the first ground test of the solid motor for its new Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE). The static test was completed at the Static Test Facility located at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota.
About the SOLVE Platform
- Core Purpose: SOLVE is being custom-developed by ISRO as a dedicated experimental test platform to carry out Integrated Parachute Tests.
- Objective: Its main role is to validate the highly critical deceleration system of the Gaganyaan mission’s Crew Module (CM) under simulated flight conditions.
- Test Profile:
- The vehicle will lift the experimental Crew Module to an altitude between 10 km and 17 km.
- At this peak altitude, the Crew Module will separate from the vehicle.
- A sequence of 10 parachutes will then deploy sequentially to reduce the module’s terminal velocity before it safely splashes down in the sea.
Key Technical Modifications
| Modification Parameter | Engineering Detail |
| Propellant Type | Development of a slow burn-rate propellant to carefully control the simulated ascent profile. |
| Nozzle Design | Use of a straight nozzle configuration rather than conventional canted or gimbaled nozzles. |
| Steering/Control | Implementation of a Secondary Injection Thrust Vector Control (SITVC) system to handle steering changes during flight. |
Other Precursor Tests & Human-Centric Developments
To prepare for India’s premier human spaceflight mission, ISRO has run several adjacent validation tracks:
- IADT-02: The second Integrated Air Drop Test was successfully carried out to assess the parachute deployment behavior from aircraft altitudes.
- Mission MITRA: Standing for Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment, this was a behavioral and physiological study conducted in Leh. The four selected Indian astronauts, alongside specialized medical and engineering teams, underwent a week-long trial to gauge crew operational dynamics under challenging environmental stress.
| About Gaganyaan Mission Objective Demonstrate India’s capability to send Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and bring them back safely. Key Features Mission duration: Up to 3 days Orbit: Around 400 km Low Earth Orbit Launch Vehicle: Human-rated LVM3 (HLVM3) Landing: Splashdown in the Bay of Bengal/Arabian Sea |
Consider the following statements regarding the SOLVE platform:
1. SOLVE is a dedicated experimental sub-orbital test platform developed by ISRO.
2. It is primarily designed to test the deceleration system of the Gaganyaan Crew Module.
3. It is intended to place satellites into Low Earth Orbit.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
The correct answer is (b) 1 and 2 only.
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct: As shown in the article snippet from image_b52720.png, SOLVE stands for Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments, which is a dedicated experimental platform developed by ISRO.
• Statement 2 is correct: Its primary purpose is to carry out Integrated Parachute Tests for the validation of the deceleration system of Gaganyaan's crew module under various test conditions.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: It is a sub-orbital platform designed to carry the crew module to an altitude of 10 km to 17 km for parachute deployment tests, after which the module separates and splashes down in the sea. It is not intended to place satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).