ISRO's SSLV completes mission, places Earth-observing satellite into orbit
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its third and final developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The rocket, which took offf on Friday morning from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carried the 175kg Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08. As per ISRO's update, the SSLV-D3 rocket has placed the satellite precisely into the orbit. This marks a significant milestone for ISRO as it concludes its SSLV development project and prepares for operational missions.
Take a look at ISRO's post
SSLV: A compact vehicle for small satellite launches
The SSLV is a compact vehicle, measuring just 2 meters in diameter and 34 meters long. It's designed to carry payloads of up to 500kg into space. The vehicle uses three solid fuel-based stages and a final liquid-fuel based stage, which adjusts the velocity for accurately placing small and micro satellites in orbit. This launch marks the last time ISRO will use an SSLV as all future missions will be conducted by a selected private company.
ISRO's commercial arm to launch Australian satellite
New Space India Limited (NSIL), ISRO's commercial arm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch an Australian satellite using a privately-operated SSLV. The upcoming mission will carry a satellite capable of repairing other satellites in orbit, developed by the Australian company Space Machines Company. This move signifies ISRO's transition toward commercializing its space operations and collaborating with private entities for future missions.
EOS-08 satellite: A microsatellite with advanced technology
The EOS-08 satellite, launched by ISRO, is a microsatellite built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus. It carries three payloads: Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and SiC UV Dosimeter. This satellite will be used to gather valuable data on various aspects of Earth, including land use, natural resources, and environmental conditions.
