ASLV stands for Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle. It was a small-lift launch vehicle, a five-stage solid-fuel rocket developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Its primary function was to place satellites weighing up to 150 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Understanding the ASLV
- Purpose: To launch relatively small satellites into orbit.
- Development: Created by ISRO.
- Type: Five-stage solid-fuel rocket.
- Payload Capacity: 150 kg to LEO.
The ASLV program aimed to improve upon the capabilities of its predecessor, the SLV-3, significantly increasing the payload capacity. While ASLV played a crucial role in ISRO's development, it has since been superseded by more advanced launch vehicles like PSLV and GSLV.
Note: While "Advanced Satellite Launch Vehicle" is also sometimes used, the official and most widely accepted full form is Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle. Other uses of the acronym ASLV exist in different contexts (like in virology, referring to Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus), but this answer focuses on the ISRO context.