North News
New Delhi, September 18
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), a critical step toward India’s vision of establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and achieving a crewed lunar landing by 2040. The NGLV will offer three times the current payload capacity at 1.5 times the cost of the LVM3, with reusability features to lower the cost of accessing space and incorporating modular green propulsion systems.
India’s space programme during the Amrit Kaal demands advanced launch vehicles with high payload capacity and reusability. The NGLV is designed to carry up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and will feature a reusable first stage. Currently, India’s launch capabilities include the PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, and SSLV, which support payloads of up to 10 tonnes to LEO and 4 tonnes to Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
The NGLV project will be executed with extensive participation from Indian industry, which will also invest in manufacturing capacity, ensuring a smooth transition to full-scale operations. The development phase includes three demonstration flights (D1, D2, D3) and is expected to take 96 months to complete.
The total funding approved for the NGLV development is Rs. 8,240 crore, covering development costs, test flights, facility establishment, programme management, and launch campaigns. The NGLV will enable India to support both national and commercial missions, including human spaceflights to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, lunar and interplanetary exploration, and the launch of communication and Earth observation satellites. This project is expected to significantly boost India’s space capabilities and ecosystem.
