ISRO’s SSLV-D2 launch: The mini vehicle’s second flight, with promise on board
Context- In its second development flight on Friday (February 10) morning, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) was launched successfully from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It will place the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) earth observation satellite EOS-07 and two co-passenger satellites — Janus-1 and AzaadiSat2— developed by start-ups, in a 450-km circular orbit around the Earth.
(Credits- Medium)
What’s the aim of the launch?
- The new vehicle was developed to capture the emerging small and micro satellite commercial market, with launches offered on demand.
- The rocket can be assembled by a small team in only a few days, compared to the six months and around 600 people it takes for ISRO’s workhorse PSLV.
This is the second attempt at a launch. What happened the last time?
- The launch vehicle uses three solid stages followed by a liquid-fuel-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) to place satellites in orbit.
- The vehicle’s first development flight that took place last August after repeated delays due to the pandemic, failed to place the satellites in precise orbit.
- A new vehicle is declared operational by the space agency after it completes two successful development flights. The last vehicle to be declared operational was the GSLV Mk III, now called LVM 3, when it carried Chandrayaan-2 in 2019.
What is Janus-1?
Janus-1 is a technology demonstrator satellite built by United States-based Antaris and its Indian partners XDLinks and Ananth Technologies.
And what is AzaadiSat2?
The payloads have been built by 750 girl students from across India. A similar satellite by SpaceKidzIndia was launched aboard SSLV-D1 in August last year. The payloads remain the same — LoRa amateur radio, a sensor to measure radiation levels in space, and sensors to measure the health of the satellite such as temperature, reset count, and inertial data
The satellite will also carry the G20 logo to space and the NCC song to celebrate 75 years of the organization.
Source- Indian Express
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