A rocket used to carry an artificial satellite to a desired height above the earth's surface and then project it with a proper velocity so that the satellite orbits the earth in the desired orbit is called a launch vehicle.
- Satellite launch vehicles are used to place the satellites in their specific orbits.
- A satellite launch vehicle needs a specifie velocity as well as a thrust to reach the desired height above the earth's surface.
- The velocity and the thrust of a satellite launch vehicle depend on the weight and orbital height of the
- Accordingly, the structure of the launch vehicle is decided and designed. The weight of the fuel also contributes a major portion in the total weight of the launch vehicle.
The structure of polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) developed by ISRO is shown above. It is a vehicle with 4 stages using solid and liquid fuels. The weight of the vehicle decreases after each stage because of consumption of fuel at that stage and detachment of that stage (i.e. the empty tank) from its body. Thus, the vehicle moves with higher speed after every stage.
