The Indian Space Program 3 - History 3
In the early 1980s, India began work on the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV). The ASLV design was based on the Satellite Launch Vehicle used in the 1970s to launch Indian space missions. It consisted of five solid fuel rocket stages and was able to carry a three hundred and thirty pound satellite into a two hundred and fifty mile orbit. The ASLV was only used four times. The first launch was in 1987 and was successful.