ISRO’s “Small” Rocket Launch With Big Aim on Independence Day

Bengaluru: ISRO will celebrate India’s Independence Day with the launch of a small rocket called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from Sriharikota on Friday morning.

This rocket will transport an experimental earth imaging satellite named EOS-8 and SR-0 Demo Sat made by a Chennai-based start-up – Space Rickshaw. The start-up Space Rickshaw will also launch a half-kg satellite.

A very unique instrument on board the EOS8 satellite will measure how much exposure happens to surfaces through ultra-violet (UV light), and this will be a forerunner instrument for a similar package to be used on Gaganyaan to measure how much cancer-causing UV light exposure the “Gaganyatris” face on their space mission.

The first flight of the SSLV in 2022 was a failure. Its second launch on February 10 in 2023 was successful. ISRO envisions to transfer the SSLV technology to the industry after the third flight.

The ISRO feels that SSLV can be a commercial success in future. It can also be used as a missile.

Dr S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says, “By its sheer simplicity and production friendliness, SSLV will be a game changer in the industry production and launch goal for commercial launchers of India.”

With the SSLV India plans to enter the small satellite launch market in a big way. The SSLV has been designed by ISRO eyeing the rising global market for small satellites.

The SSLV rocket is 34 metres high, and weighs 120 tonnes. It can carry about 500 kilograms into space in a low Earth orbit of about 350-400 kilometres above Earth.