SSLV(Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)

Why in the News?

Recently, ISRO’s maiden SSLV-D1 (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) placed the satellites in an elliptical orbit instead of the circular orbit, making the satellite unusable.

Key Points:

• • It was carrying the earth observation satellite EOS-02 and a co-passenger student spacecraft AzaadiSAT.

• Payloads: 

• • EOS-02: It is an experimental optical remote sensing satellite with a high spatial resolution.
  • AzaadiSAT: It is a 8U CubeSat weighing around 8 kilograms. 
    • It carries 75 various payloads each weighing around 50 grams.
    • Girl students from rural areas across the country were provided guidance to build these payloads.

About SSLV

• It has been designed to meet “Launch on Demand” requirements.
• The SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is the smallest vehicle (110tn) designed to place small satellites into Low Earth Orbits.
• It is a three-stage, all-solid rocket that can put 300 kg into a sun-synchronous orbit and 500 kg into a 500 km low earth orbit.

Significance: 

• It will reduce the turnaround time (take only 72 hours to integrate, unlike the 70 days taken now).
• It gives Multiple satellite mounting options for nano, micro and small satellites.
• It requires Minimum infrastructure.
• It would Cost only around Rs 30 crore and will augment the revenue of ISRO.
• All these, including NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), are targeting towards capturing the space market and making more launches of foreign satellites.