Vehicle Assembly and Static Testing (VAST)

Vehicle Assembly and Static Testing (VAST) entity performs a dual function of qualifying rocket motors and their subsystems as well as vehicle assembly and integration.

Rocket motors and their subsystems have to be rigorously tested and evaluated on ground before they are declared flight worthy. The performance parameters of a rocket motor like thrust, operating pressure, skin temperature, strain etc., are evaluated by testing them on ground under static conditions. VAST has facilities for Static testing of solid rocket motors, both at ambient and simulated high altitude conditions. Other test facilities for the environmental testing of rocket motors and their subsystems include Vibration, Shock, Constant Acceleration, and Thermal / Humidity.

Vehicle assembly and integration activities related to stage preparation as well as integration of the launch vehicles are carried out by VAST. VAST consists of facilities like Solid Motor Preparation Facility (SMPF), Stage Preparation Building (SPB), Subsystems Preparation Facility (SSPF), Technical Complex (TC-1), L110, L-40 & Cryo stage storage facilities, Mobile Service Tower (MST), Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), S200 Solid booster Assembly Building (SSAB), Umbilical Tower at SLP and Sounding Rocket complex. In addition, there are two launch pads viz. First Launch Pad (FLP) and Second Launch Pad (SLP).