ISRO launches new rocket to deploy 3 satellites

The first test flight of SSLV ended in partial failure on August 9 last, as the rocket failed to inject its satellite payload into its intended orbits.

New Delhi, Feb 10: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the second edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from the first launch pad at Sriharikota.

SSLV-D2 is intended to inject EOS-07, Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into 450 km circular orbit, in its 15-minute flight.

SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on 'launch-on-demand' basis. It provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure. It is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module. It is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 tonnes.

EOS-07 is 156.3 kg satellite designed, developed and realized by ISRO. New experiments include mm-Wave Humidity Sounder and Spectrum Monitoring Payload. Janus-1, a 10.2 kg satellite belongs to ANTARIS, USA. A 8.7 kg satellite AzaadiSAT-2 is a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Space Kidz India, Chennai.

Mission objectives

Demonstration of designed Payload capability of SSLV in LEO
Injection of EOS-07 satellite and two passenger satellites Janus-1 & AzaadiSAT-2 into 450 km circular orbit.

Second mission onboard with hope

At the end of a six and a half hour countdown, the 34-metre tall rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, even as ISRO has pinned hopes on it to lead the space agency to success in tapping the small satellite launch vehicle market.

The first test flight of SSLV ended in partial failure on August 9 last, as the rocket failed to inject its satellite payload into its intended orbits. An investigation into the failure of SSLV-D1 by ISRO revealed that the mission failed after the launch vehicle's upper stage injected the satellite into a highly elliptical unstable orbit due to a shortfall in velocity.

It also revealed that there was a vibration disturbance for a short duration on the Equipment Bay (EB) deck during the second stage separation.

SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to low earth orbits on a 'launch-on-demand' basis. It provides low-cost access to space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure. It is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module.

What are SSLV?

SSLV is a new satellite launch vehicle designed to be a low-cost and quick-to-launch alternative to ISRO's other launch vehicles, such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). These vehicles can carry small satellites into low Earth orbit and is capable of launching multiple satellites in a single mission.

The SSLV's smaller size and cost-effective option for launching small satellites. It is also seen as a major step forward for ISRO in terms of meeting the growing demand for launching small satellites and establishing itself as a reliable and cost-competitive player in the global satellite launch market.