 "Why ISRO’s third and final development flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is significant")
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) continued with their Independence Day celebrations for more than 24 hours and successfully launched their Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on August 16, 2024. This mission was known as the SSLV-D3 mission. This was the third and final development flight of this vehicle. Now it could be said that ISRO’s SSLV vehicle is fully operational.
In the future, ISRO is expected to undertake various commercial assessments by using this vehicle. For years, ISRO has been depending on its most trusted workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), for undertaking commercial launches. The payload-carrying capacity of PSLV is around two tons. The majority of contracts that ISRO is getting are for launching mini/micro/nano satellites. Small satellites are of low mass and size, usually under 500 kg. PSLV is in use essentially for launching India’s earth observation/remote sensing satellites and, on occasion, satellites required for meteorological and some other purposes.
Normally, such satellites are of the weight between 1.5 to 2 tons. Hence, when possible, ISRO was using the remaining weight-carrying capability of PLSV for carrying small satellites for commercial purposes. However, this ‘piggyback’ being a temporary arrangement, ISRO was aware that if they wanted to capture the global market for the launch of small satellites, then they would be required to develop a new vehicle for such purposes.
SSLV project put in place in 2018 to develop a vehicle for launching 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits (LEO). Unfortunately, the first developmental flight of the SSLV (SSLV-D1) launched on August 7, 2022, had failed. However, within six months, ISRO was able to identify and rectify the fault and ensure the success during the second developmental flight on February 10, 2023. During this SSLV-D2 mission, three small satellites were put in orbit. For the SSLV-D3 mission, the main payload is the EOS-08 satellite, which is weighing 175.5 kg. This system has three key payloads inside it. They include an Electro-Optical Infrared (EOIR) payload, a Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) payload, and a Silicon Carbide (SiC) UV Dosimeter.
EOIR is meant for satellite-based surveillance, disaster and environmental monitoring, fire detection, and industrial disaster assessment. This unit would take day and night images across the Mid-Wave Infrared (MIR) and Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) spectrums. The GNSS-R payload comes with remote sensing applications like flood monitoring, analysing ocean surface winds, assessing soil moisture, and studying the Himalayan region. While the dosimeter is meant for monitoring UV irradiance for the Gaganyaan Mission’s Crew Module. It would provide warning in case of the presence of a high dose of gamma radiation.
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More ShortsThis mission, in addition to EOS-08, has also launched a cube satellite called SR-0 DEMOSAT for the Space Kidz India, which is an Indian Aerospace Startup dealing with small satellites. This satellite has an IMU and Digipeater. An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is an electronic device that measures and reports acceleration, orientation, angular rates, and other gravitational forces. While Digipeater is a digital repeater, which is normally a single-frequency device. The purpose of this satellite is to provide a LoRa digipeater for amateur radio operators as well as serve as DemoSat for a new cubesat deployer. This satellite aims to create awareness about amateur radio and nanosatellites among school and college students. It also would help to successfully transmit health telemetry and beacons for radio amateurs around the world.
ISRO never loses an opportunity to gain maximum from any of their missions. The key focus of the SSLV-D3 mission is to test the launch vehicle. However, ISRO is using this occasion to test various new technologies. Particularly with the EOS-08 Mission, it could be found that ISRO’s IMS-1 Bus system capabilities are considerably improved in terms of enhanced power generation, more payload mass, increased data download rate, and more data storage capabilities. A satellite bus system houses and supports the payload and provides the essential functions needed to operate the satellite.According to ISRO, EOS-08 embodies an important leap in satellite mainframe systems. It has an integrated avionics system . for the purposes of communication, baseband, storage, and positioning. This offers up to 400 GB of data storage. It includes several advanced technologies like a structural panel embedded with PCB, a Micro-DGA (Dual Gimbal Antenna), an M-PAA (Phased Array Antenna), and a flexible solar panel.
Broadly, it could be said that ISRO is using this opportunity for onboard technology demonstration. This mission also serves as a platform for improving the design of future launch vehicles. Now, with the success of this mission, ISRO has an operational vehicle that is fully capable of carrying a payload of 500 kg and putting it safely at an altitude of 500 km. SSLV is also capable of launching multiple satellites in different orbits. SSLV has a major commercial angle associated with it. In the near future, ISRO is expected to transfer the vehicle development technology to the private sector for conducting these launches. Future missions are expected to be assumed under the collaboration between Indian industry and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
The main advantage with SSLV is its quick turnaround time. This vehicle can be assembled in only 72 hours and requires a team of only six people for this purpose. Presently, ISRO is developing a separate launchpad for undertaking SSLV launches. Since SSLV can launch multiple satellites simultaneously (that too in different orbits, if required), it offers a good opportunity both for commercial satellite operators and research institutions. The success of SSLV is also ‘good news’ for the Indian armed forces, since it can satisfy the military requirement of ‘launch on demand’. Hence, it is important to look at this success both from commercial and strategic perspectives.
The author is Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
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