VSSC unit to undertake system checkouts ahead of Chandrayaan-3 launch

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Space technology

Concept :

On Friday afternoon, the spotlight will be on the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, from where India’s third moon mission will take to the skies. But some of the action before the lift-off will take place at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba.
The VSSC is ISRO’s lead unit for launch vehicles, and is responsible for the design and development of the LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk-III) launch vehicle

Virtual Launch Control Centre

Background
A replica of the launch control centre at Sriharikota, the VLCC at Thumba was operationalised during the COVID-19 pandemic when large-scale movement of personnel for space missions was out of the question.
Since then, the facility, manned by a small group of scientists, has been activated for various missions including the LVM3 M2/OneWeb India-1 mission in October 2022.

Role in ISRO Missions

The virtual launch control centre (VLCC) at the VSSC will have an important role to play in safely seeing off the powerful LVM3 launch vehicle carrying the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.
System check-outs, including those of the electronics, actuators and commands, will be carried out from the VLCC to make sure that they are operating properly.
Provides crucial advice and analysis of the various parameters.
The facility allows the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to remotely carry out system checkouts on the launch vehicle prior to a mission.