From PSLV to Soorya? ISRO’s Next Big Rocket Might Carry a Name Rooted in Indian Heritage

India’s space agency, ISRO, has a long history of rocket naming, from technical designations like PSLV and GSLV to culturally rooted names like Rohini and Agni. Now, for its Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), ISRO seems to be considering a shift back to tradition. Reports suggest that the rocket may be named Soorya, inspired by the Sanskrit word for the Sun. However, the name isn’t official yet, leaving room for speculation on how ISRO’s rocket naming strategy is evolving.

A Cultural Shift in ISRO’s Rocket Naming

No. NGLV is not the name of the rocket.

“Internally, we have named NGLV as Soorya. But it is not official. It is not finalised and it is still NGLV,” senior officials said, not wanting to be quoted.

In India, Soorya/Surya means The Sun and solar deity in Hinduism. People thank the Sun while celebrating the harvest festival. In Tamil Nadu there is the Sooriyanar temple where the main deity is the Sun.

Be that as it may, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has four operational rockets – Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark III earlier called GSLV Mk-III) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

Naming of rockets based on the orbit where they would put the satellites was not the way it was from the beginning for ISRO.

The Legacy of Indian Rocket Names

The Indian space agency had named its first sounding rocket as Rohini-after the star- used for meteorological and atmospheric studies.

Then came the rockets with long names – Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV), Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and followed by PSLV, GSLV, LVM3 and SSLV.

On the other hand, India’s military missiles have short names that are related to its language and culture like Agni (Fire), BrahMos (akin to Brahmastra – a powerful weapon of Hindu God Brahma), Prithivi (Earth), Dhanush (Bow) and others.

Interestingly, India had named its initial satellites after Aryabhatta-famous mathematician-astronomer and mathematicians Bhaskara I and Bhaskara II.

Later ISRO opted for generic names for its satellites. The earth observation satellite was called with acronym EOS and communication satellite as CMS followed by a serial number – like EOS-01, CMS-01.

The Push for a Meaningful Name for NGLV

While ISRO remained silent as to the reason for the name change, a retired senior official said with satellites having multiple payloads, a thematic name may not be apt.

This was followed by a name change for India’s navigation system.

Initially the system had a long name – Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). Later the name was changed to NavIC – Navigation with Indian Constellation.

In the Sanskrit language, the word `navik’ also means sailor.

The navigation satellites are called NVS followed by their serial number.

Former ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair, when asked about India’s small rocket SSLV, said it is time to look into the Indian scriptures and culture and come up with a name signifying the features of the new rocket and its power.

Global Inspiration: How Other Nations Name Their Rockets

Interestingly Arianespace’s rocket Ariane meaning `most holy’ and is derived from the Greek word Ariadne. Chinese rocket Long March and Russia’s Soyuz (meaning Union got their names from their history.

Nair then recalled how the media had called the 640 ton GSLV-Mk III as `Bahubali’ after the hero in the movie `Bahubali’ lifted a heavy `Lingam’. On the other hand, ISRO officials had called GSLV-Mk III as `fat boy’.

Later India renamed its underdevelopment reusable launch vehicle (RLV)-winged rocket- as Pushpak. In the Indian epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata- Pushpaka Vimana (simply a flying chariot) is mentioned.

Whether India’s new rocket development at an outlay of Rs.8,240 crore with a 30-ton payload to low earth orbit will be officially called Soorya or will get a different name is not known.

But it seems, it will not be called Next Generation Launch Vehicle or NGLV.