Small Satellite Launch Vehicle­D2

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle­D2

Why in news:

  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will undertake the second development flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on Friday from Sriharikota.
  • The vehicle is intended to inject the ISRO’s EOS­07, the U.S.­based firm Antaris’s Janus­1 and the Chennai­based space start­up Space Kidz’s AzaadiSAT­2 satellites into a 450­km circular orbit in its 15­minute flight.

EOS-07, Janus-1:

  • The EOS­07 is a 156.3­kg satellite designed, developed and realised by the ISRO.
  • Weighing around 10.2 kg, Janus­1 is a technology demonstrator, smart satellite mission based on the Antaris software platform.
  • Its mission objective is to design and develop payload instruments compatible with micro satellite bus and technologies that are required for future operational satellites.
  • It would design and develop a micro satellite accommodating new technology payloads in a quick turnaround time.
  • New experiments include mm­Wave humidity sounder and spectrum monitoring payload.

AzaadiSAT­2:

  • A 8.7­kg satellite, AzaadiSAT­2 is a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Space Kidz India, Chennai.

More about SSLV:

  • The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle(SSLV) is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO with payload capacity to deliver 500 kg  to low Earth orbit or 300 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit.
  • SSLV is made keeping low cost, low turnaround time in mind with launch-on-demand flexibility under minimal infrastructure requirements.
  • It provides low­cost access to space, offers low turnaround time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure.
  • It is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module.
  • It is a 34­m­tall, 2m­diameter vehicle with a lift­off mass of 120 tonnes.

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