Rohini RH 200 Sounding Rocket

Subject: Science & technology

Context: ISRO eyeing 200th successful launch of RH-200 sounding rocket in a row.

Concept :

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) hopes to achieve a remarkable feat the 200th successful launch of the Rohini RH-200 sounding rocket in a row.
The 5-metre-tall RH-200, a trusted member of the Rohini sounding rocket family used by the ISRO for atmospheric studies, has completed 198 consecutive successful flights, according to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
RH-200 is a two-stage rocket capable of climbing to a height of 70 km bearing scientific payloads. The first and second stages of RH-200 are powered by solid motors.
The ‘200’ in the name denotes the diameter of the rocket in mm. Other operational Rohini variants are RH-300 Mk-II and RH-560 Mk-III.

Sounding Rocket Programme

Sounding rockets are one or two stage solid propellant rockets used for probing the upper atmospheric regions and for space research.
They also serve as easily affordable platforms to test or prove prototypes of new components or subsystems intended for use in launch vehicles and satellites.
At present, IISRO has three versions of sounding rockets– RH-200, RH-300-Mk-II and RH-560-Mk-II capable of carrying 8-100kg payload and reach an altitude of 80 to 475km.
ISRO started launching indigenously made sounding rockets from 1965, and experience gained was of immense value in the mastering of solid propellant technology.