Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is ISRO’s four-stage workhorse launch vehicle. This family record models the source-backed PSLV-XL and PSLV-CA variants with exact S139, PSOM-XL, Vikas, PS3, and PS4 propulsion identities; QL and DL strap-on variants remain separate until their distinct motor identities are canonical.
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Identity
- Aliases
- PSLVPolar Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Family Name
- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Full Name
- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
- Status
- active
- Type
- rocket
Details
- Description
- The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is ISRO’s four-stage workhorse launch vehicle. This family record models the source-backed PSLV-XL and PSLV-CA variants with exact S139, PSOM-XL, Vikas, PS3, and PS4 propulsion identities; QL and DL strap-on variants remain separate until their distinct motor identities are canonical.
- First Flight Year
- 1,993
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- first-stage
- Variant Notes
- ISRO identifies S139 as the PSLV first-stage core motor.
- Count
- 6
- Placement
- booster
- Propulsion System
- Role
- booster
- Stage
- first-stage
- Variant Notes
- ISRO identifies six extended PSOM-XL strap-on motors on PSLV-XL.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- second-stage
- Variant Notes
- Vikas family second-stage engine; exact Vikas submodel is not asserted by the PSLV family source.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- third-stage
- Variant Notes
- ISRO identifies PS3 as the third-stage solid propulsion system.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- upper
- Propulsion System
- Role
- upper-stage
- Stage
- fourth-stage
- Variant Notes
- ISRO identifies PS4 as the fourth-stage liquid twin-engine propulsion system.
- Name
- PSLV-XL
- Notes
- ISRO documents PSLV-XL with six extended PSOM-XL strap-on motors around the S139 core first stage, followed by Vikas, PS3, and twin-engine PS4 stage systems. The PS4 system identity intentionally remains stage-level because ISRO does not identify its engine model in the cited source.
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- first-stage
- Variant Notes
- S139 core first-stage motor.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- second-stage
- Variant Notes
- Vikas family second-stage engine; exact submodel not asserted.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- third-stage
- Variant Notes
- PS3 third-stage solid propulsion system.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- upper
- Propulsion System
- Role
- upper-stage
- Stage
- fourth-stage
- Variant Notes
- PS4 fourth-stage liquid twin-engine propulsion system.
- Name
- PSLV-CA
- Notes
- ISRO identifies PSLV-CA as the core-alone variant with no strap-on motors; the four-stage core uses S139, Vikas, PS3, and PS4 systems.
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- first-stage
- Variant Notes
- S139 core first-stage motor.
- Count
- 2
- Placement
- booster
- Propulsion System
- Role
- booster
- Stage
- first-stage
- Variant Notes
- ISRO maps PSLV-DL to two S12 strap-on boosters.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- second-stage
- Variant Notes
- Vikas family second-stage engine; exact submodel not asserted.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- third-stage
- Variant Notes
- PS3 third-stage solid propulsion system.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- upper
- Propulsion System
- Role
- upper-stage
- Stage
- fourth-stage
- Variant Notes
- PS4 fourth-stage liquid twin-engine propulsion system.
- Name
- PSLV-DL
- Notes
- ISRO identifies PSLV-DL as the core vehicle with two S12 solid strap-on boosters; the existing XL and CA configurations are preserved.
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- first-stage
- Variant Notes
- S139 core first-stage motor.
- Count
- 4
- Placement
- booster
- Propulsion System
- Role
- booster
- Stage
- first-stage
- Variant Notes
- ISRO maps PSLV-QL to four S12 strap-on boosters.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- second-stage
- Variant Notes
- Vikas family second-stage engine; exact submodel not asserted.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- third-stage
- Variant Notes
- PS3 third-stage solid propulsion system.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- upper
- Propulsion System
- Role
- upper-stage
- Stage
- fourth-stage
- Variant Notes
- PS4 fourth-stage liquid twin-engine propulsion system.
- Name
- PSLV-QL
- Notes
- ISRO identifies PSLV-QL as the core vehicle with four S12 solid strap-on boosters; the existing XL and CA configurations are preserved.
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- first-stage
- Count
- 6
- Placement
- booster
- Propulsion System
- Role
- booster
- Stage
- first-stage
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- second-stage
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- core
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- third-stage
- Variant Notes
- ISRO names the PS3 third-stage motor S7.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- upper
- Propulsion System
- Role
- upper-stage
- Stage
- fourth-stage
- Name
- PSLV-XL exact S7 third-stage motor
- Notes
- ISRO identifies the PSLV PS3 motor as S7; this precision configuration preserves the existing four variant baselines and narrows only the XL third-stage motor identity.
- Rocket Specs
- Stages Count
- 4
Links
- Official Url
- https://www.isro.gov.in/ISRO_EN/PSLV_CON.html
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 22:34:19 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 22:54:08 UTC