Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on August 7 launched its the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle SSLV-D1.
- SSLV-D1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
- The SSLV-D1 rocket carried the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-02 and another small satellite AzaadiSAT, developed by the student team of Space Kidz India.
- AzaadiSAT’ comprising 75 payloads has been built by 750 young girl students from 75 rural government schools across India.
- This project has been specially conceptualised for the 75th Independence Day year celebrations to encourage scientific temper and create opportunities for young girls to choose space research as their career.
- The satellite was built under the guidance of Isro by school students from rural regions across the country and was then integrated by the student team of “Space Kidz India”.
- EOS-02 is an earth observation satellite designed and realised by ISRO. This microsat series satellite offers advanced optical remote sensing operating in infra-red band with high spatial resolution. The bus configuration is derived from IMS-1 bus.
About SSLV
- SSLV developed by ISRO has solid fuel in the first three stages and a fourth stage that carries liquid propulsion-based Velocity trimming module.
- It offers on demand quick launch feasibility and requires minimal launch infrastructure as compared to PSLV and GSLV launch vehicles of ISRO.
- ISRO developed a small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) to cater the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on ‘launch-on-demand’ basis.
- SSLV is capable of launching Mini, Micro, or Nanosatellites (10 to 500 kg mass) to a 500 km planar orbit.
- SSLV provides low-cost access to Space on demand basis.
- It offers low turn-around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, launch-on-demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc. SSLV-D1 is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 t.
