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The micro rocket will fly with the agency’s latest microsatellite, EOS-08, which is used for Earth observation and has a mission life of one year. Photo/News18
This is the third development flight of the SSLV, a rocket specially designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation for launching small satellites. After the successful launch on August 15, the rocket will be declared ready for future operational missions for Indian industry
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its low-cost Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on its final development flight on the upcoming Independence Day. After a successful launch, the agency will declare the small rocket ready for future operational missions.
“The launch will take place on August 15 at 9:27 am from Sriharikota. It completes the SSLV development project and enables Indian industry and NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) to carry out operational missions,” the ISRO announced.
This was the third development flight of the SSLV, a three-stage launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation to cater to the fast-growing market for 500 kg satellites into low Earth orbit. Standing 34 metres tall and with a take-off mass of around 120 tonnes, the rocket has a short turnaround time and on-demand launch capability and is part of the agency’s efforts to provide low-cost access to space. While its first mission in August 2022 was unsuccessful, it achieved its goal on its second flight in February 2023.
Carrying an Earth Observation Satellite — 3 payloads
The micro-rocket will carry the Indian Space Research Organization’s latest micro-satellite EOS-08, which is used for Earth observation and has a mission life of one year. The main goal of this mission is to design and develop a micro-satellite, manufacture payload instruments compatible with the micro-satellite platform, and utilize new technologies required for future satellite operations, according to the Indian Space Research Organization.
Weighing approximately 175.5 kg, EOS-08 can carry three payloads for day and night imagery for satellite surveillance, disaster/environmental monitoring, environment, fire detection, industrial and power plant disaster monitoring. It will also provide data for sea surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere research in the Himalayas, and flood detection.
One of the payloads can also monitor the UV irradiance at the viewport of the crew module in the Gaganyaan mission and act as a high-dose warning sensor for gamma radiation. The satellite will be placed in a circular low earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 475 km with a mission life of one year. It can generate about 420 W of power.
SSLV development project completed
In August 2022, the first SSLV mission ended in failure as the AzaadiSAT satellite it carried hurtled towards the Earth soon after launch. ISRO chief S Somanath attributed it to an “anomaly in the satellite’s position in the intended orbit,” which could have been caused by the rocket responding automatically after detecting a sensor malfunction in the system. Apart from this anomaly, all other parts of the rocket performed well, he said.
The second launch took place in February 2023 and successfully placed the EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into a 450-kilometer circular orbit during a 15-minute flight.
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