ISRO Successfully Launches SSLV-D3, Paving the Way for Cost-Effective Small Satellite Deployments

Sriharikota, August 16 - The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D3) on Friday morning from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This marks the completion of the SSLV developmental project and positions ISRO as a competitive player in the global small satellite launch market.

SSLV-D3: A Leap Forward in Small Satellite Launch Capabilities

The SSLV-D3, ISRO’s third and final developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle, lifted off at 9:17 am, carrying two payloads: the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-08) and the SR-0 Demosat, a small satellite developed by Space Kidz India. The mission's primary objectives were to demonstrate the reliability and consistent performance of the SSLV vehicle systems and to place the satellites into a precise 475 km circular low Earth orbit.

Approximately 13 minutes after liftoff, the SSLV-D3 successfully injected the 175.5 kg EOS-08 satellite into orbit, followed by the deployment of the 0.2 kg SR-0 Demosat three minutes later. The precise placement of these satellites confirms the mission's success and marks the beginning of operational missions for the SSLV, which is now ready for commercial use by Indian industry and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Advancing India's Space Technology

ISRO Chairman S. Somanath declared, "The rocket has placed the satellites into precise orbit. With this, we declare that the SSLV development process is completed. ISRO is in the process of transferring the technology to the industry." This successful launch opens new avenues for ISRO, providing a cost-effective and flexible solution to meet the growing demands of the small satellite launch market.

Mission Director S. S. Vinod emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, "With the successful launch, ISRO is moving into the operational phase of SSLV." The SSLV, a three-stage rocket with solid propulsion stages and a liquid propulsion-based velocity trimming module (VTM) as the terminal stage, is capable of launching mini, micro, or nano satellites weighing between 10 kg and 500 kg.

EOS-08: A Technological Marvel

The EOS-08 satellite, developed by U. R. Rao Satellite Centre, represents a first-of-its-kind mission, built on ISRO’s microsat/MS-1 bus and equipped with advanced payloads for infrared observation, Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R), and a Silicon Carbide (SiC) UV dosimeter. The satellite incorporates 20 new technological developments, including an integrated avionics system, a phased array antenna, and a flexible solar panel, all aimed at enhancing satellite performance.

The successful deployment of EOS-08 also serves as a precursor for ISRO’s future missions, such as Gaganyaan, India’s human spaceflight program, where the radiation exposure data collected by the Dosimeter payload will be crucial.

The Future of SSLV

With the completion of the SSLV-D3 mission, ISRO now has a rocket capable of launching small satellites with minimal infrastructure and a quick turnaround time of just 72 hours. This flexibility, combined with the low cost of SSLV launches, positions ISRO to capitalize on the burgeoning small satellite market, offering "launch-on-demand" services to both domestic and international clients.

The successful launch of SSLV-D3 not only demonstrates India’s growing prowess in space technology but also ensures that ISRO remains at the forefront of space exploration and satellite deployment.