The Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, on Friday launched the third developmental flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Moments after the launch, ISRO successfully placed the EOS-08 satellite into orbit with the SSLV developmental flight and also deployed the DEMOSAT as intended.
“ISRO successfully launched the EOS-08 satellite, completing the SSLV development,” ISRO chief S Somanath said.
He further said that the rocket placed the spacecraft into the exact orbit as planned with no deviations in the injection conditions.
“The final orbit will be known after tracking but the current indication is that everything is perfect. The EOS-08 satellite as well as SR-08 satellite has also been injected after manoeuvres. Congratulations to the SSLV-D3 team, the project team,” the ISRO chief said.
Union MoS Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh shared the video of ISRO EOS-08 satellite launch and congratulated the the space agency for its success.
“With the personal intervention and patronage provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, team ISRO has been able to carry one success after the other in a serial manner,” the minister said.
The Earth Observing Satellite, or EOS, was onboard the smallest SSLV rocket which measures about 34 metre in height.
EOS-08, the satellite onboard the rocket, is designed for applications in diverse fields, from soil moisture assessment to disaster management.
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With the successful launch, the development of the SSLV, ISRO’s small-lift launch vehicle, is complete.
“With this third developmental flight of SSLV, we can declare the development process of SSLV is completed,” Somanath said.
Why is it significant?
The launch on August 16 is significant as it was the third and final developmental flight of the SSLV-D3. The maiden mission of SSLV-D1/EOS-02 did not place the satellites into intended orbits in August 2022, the second developmental flight was successfully launched on February 10, 2023.
Somanath on Friday (August 16) further said, “…It was a very successful mission… As on today, with the data available, the mission is almost a 100 per cent success with the satellite being placed in the correct orbit and all separation process happening nominally.”
“We are very happy about completion of the development programme of SSLV with this third development flight… Now, beyond this, the program is to manufacture and launch this rocket for commercial purpose,” he added.
What’s next?
Now, Indian industries can use this rocket for future missions, with support from government-owned company NewSpace India Limited.
With the launch on August 16, ISRO has achieved a hat-trick of consecutive successful missions this year. In January, the space agency launched the PSLV-C58/XpoSat mission and in February, the GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission was launched.
A SSLV rocket used in the mission is shorter at 34 metres tall (compared to PSLV rockets which are 44 metres tall) and are used to place satellites (mini, micro or nano satellites) that weigh up to 500 kg below 500 km of Low Earth Orbit.
The satellites carried in the SSLV-D3-EOS-08 mission weigh 175.5 kg and the launch vehicle comprises three solid propulsion stages and a liquid module as a terminal stage.
With inputs from agencies.
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