Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

This article is about the small-lift rocket developed by ISRO in the 2020s. For similarly named 1970s rocket, see Satellite Launch Vehicle. For small-lift satellite launch vehicles in general, see Small-lift launch vehicle.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
SSLV D1 lifting off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad
FunctionSmall-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerNSIL, ISRO[1]
Country of originIndia
Cost per launch₹30 crore (US$3.6 million) to ₹35 crore (US$4.2 million) (expected)[2][3][4][5]
Size
Height34 m (112 ft)
Diameter2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Mass120 t (120 long tons; 130 short tons)
Stages3+1[6]
Capacity
Payload to low Earth orbit
Altitude500 km (310 mi)[7]
Orbital inclination45.0°
Mass10 kg (22 lb) to 500 kg (1,100 lb)[8]
Payload to Sun-synchronous orbit
Altitude500 km (310 mi)[7]
Mass300 kg (660 lb)
Associated rockets
Comparable
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesSatish Dhawan Space Centre Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport
Total launches3
Success(es)2
Failure(s)1
First flight03:48 UTC, 7 August 2022.[9]
Last flight16 August 2024, EOS-08
First stage – SS1
Diameter2 m
Propellant mass87,000 kg (192,000 lb)[10]
Powered byS85
Maximum thrust2,496 kN (vac)[11]
Burn time94.3 s[11]
PropellantSolid (HTPB based)
Second stage – SS2
Diameter2 m
Propellant mass7,700 kg (17,000 lb)[10]
Powered byS7
Maximum thrust234.2 kN (vac)[11]
Burn time113.1 s[11]
PropellantSolid (HTPB based)
Third stage – SS3
Diameter1.7 m
Propellant mass4,500 kg (9,900 lb)[10]
Powered byS4
Maximum thrust160 kN (vac)[11]
Burn time106.9 s[11]
PropellantSolid (HTPB based)
Fourth stage – Velocity Trimming Module (VTM)
Diameter2 m
Propellant mass50 kg (110 lb)[10]
Powered by16 × 50N bipropellant thrusters[11]
PropellantMMH+MON3 Liquid
[edit on Wikidata]

The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO to deliver 500 kg (1,100 lb) payload to low Earth orbit (500 km (310 mi)) or 300 kg (660 lb) payload to Sun-synchronous orbit (500 km (310 mi)).[7] The rocket supports multi-orbital drop-offs capability for small satellites.[12][13][14]

The maiden flight SSLV-D1 was conducted from First Launch Pad on 7 August 2022,[9][15] however, the payload failed to reach the intended orbit.[16] The second flight SSLV-D2 was successful in delivering payload into orbit on 10 February 2023.[17]

SSLV is made keeping low cost, low turnaround time in mind with launch-on-demand flexibility under minimal infrastructure requirements. It is capable of carrying multiple satellites.[18] Once SSLV is operational, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and a group of Indian companies will manage the mass production and launch activities.[19][20][21]

  1. ^ "SSLV MANUFACTURING". /www.nsilindia.co.in. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ET_20200331 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference TH_20190111 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Why ISRO's maiden SSLV mission failed despite successful launch of new rocket". Dnaindia.com. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  6. ^ "ISRO is developing a small rocket to cash in on the small-satellite boom". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "SSLV technical brochure V12" (PDF). 20 December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  8. ^ "'We have a new launch vehicle': Isro successfully introduces SSLV to the world". India Today. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b Indian Space Research Organisation [@ISRO] (1 August 2022). "The launch of the SSLV-D1/EOS-02 Mission is scheduled for Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 9:18 am (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. ISRO invites citizens to the Launch View Gallery at SDSC to witness the launch" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ a b c d "SSLV-D1/EOS-2 Mission Brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Small Satellite Launch Vehicle". Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  12. ^ Gunter's space page: SSLV
  13. ^ "SSLV". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Department of Space presentation on 18 January 2019" (PDF). 18 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  15. ^ Kumar, Chethan (19 July 2022). "Another Chandrayaan-3 test done on Sunday; SSLV launch planned for August". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tribune_20201006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ "Successful flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)". Press Information Bureau. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  18. ^ U., Tejonmayam (7 August 2022). "SSLV-D1/EOS-02 mission: Rocket injected satellites but orbit achieved is less than expected, Isro says". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  19. ^ Sorensen, Jodi (6 August 2019). "Spaceflight Inc. Purchases and Fully Manifests First-Ever Commercial SSLV Mission from NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the Commercial Arm of ISRO, India". Spaceflight. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  20. ^ Singh, Surendra (4 May 2018). "ISRO to rope in industry majors for mini-PSLV project". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  21. ^ IANS (2 September 2018). "There's big money to make in space business for Indian firms: Antrix chief". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2 September 2018.