---
title: "PSLV: India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle"
description: "The PSLV is ISRO's four-stage workhorse rocket for Sun-synchronous polar orbits, launched Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan, and set a 104-satellite record in 2017."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/polar-satellite-launch-vehicle-pslv"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The PSLV is an expendable Indian rocket developed by ISRO to place satellites into polar Sun-synchronous and other low Earth orbits.
- How does the PSLV differ from the GSLV?
- Why is the PSLV called India's 'workhorse' launch vehicle?
- What major missions has the PSLV launched?
- What are the main PSLV variants?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Timeline

1. 20 September 1993

   The maiden flight, PSLV-D1, on failed owing to a software and attitude-control fault, but the second developmental flight, PSLV-D2, on 15 October 1994 succe…

2. 15 October 1994

   The maiden flight, PSLV-D1, on 20 September 1993 failed owing to a software and attitude-control fault, but the second developmental flight, PSLV-D2, on suc…

3. 22 October 2008

   The PSLV-XL launched Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar probe, on , and the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) on 5 November 2013, which made India the first…

4. 5 November 2013

   The PSLV-XL launched Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar probe, on 22 October 2008, and the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) on , which made India the first…

5. 15 February 2017

   On , PSLV-C37 set a then-world record by deploying 104 satellites in a single flight, the majority being foreign nano-satellites carried commercially through…

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Example

ISRO's PSLV-C37 deployed a record 104 satellites in a single flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 15 February 2017, including 96 foreign satellites flown commercially through Antrix Corporation.

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