ISRO?s SSLV-D2

ISRO’s SSLV-D2

News: Recently, in its second attempt, ISRO’s smallest vehicle, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2), was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

What is SSLV?
 SSLV is a 3 stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and Liquid propulsionbased Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal.
 It is 2 m in diameter and 34m in length with a lift off weight of 120 tonnes and is capable of launching a 10 to 500 kg satellite in 500 km planar orbit.
 The rocket can be assembled by a small team in only a few days, compared to the 6 months and around 600 people it takes for ISRO’s workhorse PSLV.
 It has been developed to capture the emerging small (nano-micro-mini) satellite commercial market, with launches offered on demand.
 It provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time, facilitates flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites and demands minimal launch infrastructure.

What is on-board SSLV-D2?
 EOS-07 - EOS-07 is a 156.3 kg satellite designed and developed by ISRO. Its mission objective is to design and develop payload instruments compatible with microsatellite buses and new technologies for future operational satellites.
 AzaadiSat2 - It is a Cubesat weighing around 8 kg and carries 75 different payloads. Girl students from rural regions across the country were provided guidance to build these payloads. The payloads are integrated by the student team of “Space Kidz India”.
 Janus-1 - It is a technology demonstrator satellite built by US-based Antaris and its Indian partners XDLinks and Ananth Technologies. It is a six-unit cube satellite with five payloads on board — two from Singapore, and one each from Kenya, Australia, and Indonesia.