ISRO successfully launches SSLV’s second developmental flight
Recently ISRO has successfully launched Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh).
This was the second development flight of SSLV. In its maiden flight in August 2022, SSLV failed to put the satellite into orbit.
Salient Features of SSLV-D2
- With the successful launch of SSLV-D2, India has got a new launch vehicle that aims to commercialize small satellites launched through industry on demand.
- SSLV-D2 successfully placed the three satellites in their desired orbits.
- In its second developmental flight, the SSLV-D2 vehicle placed the EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into their target 450 km circular orbit with an inclination of 37°.
- SSLV is the new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle developed by ISRO to cater to the launch of small satellites up to 500 kg into Low Earth Orbit on ‘launch-on-demand’ basis.
- It is configured with three concrete stages of 87t, 7.7t and 4.5t respectively.
- SSLV is a 34 meter long, 2 meter diameter vehicle with a lift off mass of 120 tons.
- SSLV is capable of launching mini, micro, or nano-satellites (10 to 500 kg mass) into an orbit of 500 km.
- It provides low-cost access to space, low turn-around time, flexibility to accommodate multiple satellites and requires minimal launch infrastructure.
Source – The Hindu
