Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the third developmental flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
It accurately placed the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08 in orbit, also signalling the completion of ISRO / Department of Space’s SSLV development project.
Key facts about SSLV:
ISRO’s SSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle designed with three solid propulsion stages.
It also has a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage, which helps in adjusting the velocity to place the satellite in orbit.
The need for SSLV:
The goal of SSLV is to build low-cost launch vehicles that are quick to build and require minimal infrastructure.
SSLV can launch mini, micro or nanosatellites (weighing 10 to 500 kg) into an orbit of 500 km.
Small payloads are required for satellite launches by businesses, government agencies, universities and laboratories.
New Space India Limited (NSIL) is the commercial arm of ISRO, whose primary responsibility is to facilitate Indian industries to undertake advanced technology space related activities.
The advantages of SSLV:
It takes only 72 hours to integrate, while the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLV) take 70 days.
It is an on-demand vehicle. Only six people are required to complete this work quickly and its cost is about Rs 30 crore.
PSLV and GSLV:
PSLV:
It is the third generation of Indian satellite launch vehicles.
It was first used in the year 1994 after which more than 50 successful PSLV launches have taken place.
It is also called the ‘workhorse of ISRO’ for continuously launching various satellites into low earth orbits (less than 2,000 km altitude) with high success rate.
It successfully launched two spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 (in 2008) and Mars Orbiter Mission (in 2013).
It can carry a payload of up to 1,750 kg into Sun-Specific Polar Orbit (SSPO) at an altitude of 600 km.
SSPO is synchronous with the Sun i.e. they pass through the Earth region at the same local time every day.
GSLV:
It is developed and operated by ISRO to launch satellites and other space objects into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
GTO is an elliptical orbit in which a spacecraft enters before moving into a geosynchronous orbit or geostationary orbit around the Earth.
GSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle.
The first stage comprises a solid booster, the second stage a liquid engine and the third stage an indigenously built Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) carrying cryogenic propellant.
New-Space India Limited (NSIL):
is a wholly owned Government of India Company under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS).
NSIL’s key business areas include:
Manufacturing of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) for industry.
Creation and marketing of space-based services, including launch services and space-based applications such as transponder leasing, remote sensing and mission support services.
Construction of satellites (both communication and earth observation) as per user requirements.
Transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centres / Units and institutions of Department of Space.
