Isro receives 15 orders for Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has received 15 orders for launches, including from Singapore, for its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which will place satellites weighing 5 kg to 500 kg into orbit.The space organisation will now start making the launch vehicles to meet the demand through its commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL).There is demand from many countries to launch mini, micro, and nanosatellites, and India now has a proven launch vehicle for small payloads, which is economical.SSLV is low-cost, has a shorter duration between two consecutive launches, and can accommodate multiple satellites, said an Isro official. The rocket requires minimal launch infrastructure and also has the launch-on-demand capability, or the ability to place satellites into orbit as and when required. Larger rockets require more time and elaborate preparation for launches.There is a preference for smaller satellites the world over because they are cheaper to build and launch and can be used for multiple applications, he added.As the final developmental flight of the rocket on Friday was a success, Isro will finalise and train a private consortium to start manufacturing in the long run because the country is planning to leverage its expertise to tap the commercial potential of launching small satellites. The process of selecting a consortium is on.It will take two years for the identified consortium to start the work with the support of Isro. In the meantime, NSIL will produce and assemble the rockets to meet the immediate demand to launch satellites. "This will continue till the industry can take over through the direct technology transfer route," said the official.The consortium should be ready to absorb the technology, including aerodynamics, structural design, auxiliary systems, propulsion technologies, and avionics, and set up a sustainable industry model to manufacture and periodically upgrade the designs and launch as per market demand, says the EoI document released by Isro to select a company.On Friday, the space organisation completed the third and final developmental flight of SSLV, making the launch vehicle ready for manufacture. The SSLV-D3 lifted off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, and injected two satellites (EOS-08, an earth observation satellite, and SR-Demosat) into a 475 km circular low-earth orbit.After the SSLV launch on Friday, Isro chairman S Somnath said that the identified consortium will work with Isro for two years to understand the technology and realise two vehicles that will be launched by NSIL. He also said that the spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam that can be used for SSLV launches will be ready in two years.Smaller than the workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the SSLV is 34 m tall, weighs 119 tonnes, and requires minimum launch infrastructure. It is configured as an all-solid propellant-based three-stage vehicle.Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has received 15 orders for launches, including from Singapore, for its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which will place satellites weighing 5 kg to 500 kg into orbit.The space organisation will now start making the launch vehicles to meet the demand through its commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL).There is demand from many countries to launch mini, micro, and nanosatellites, and India now has a proven launch vehicle for small payloads, which is economical.SSLV is low-cost, has a shorter duration between two consecutive launches, and can accommodate multiple satellites, said an Isro official. The rocket requires minimal launch infrastructure and also has the launch-on-demand capability, or the ability to place satellites into orbit as and when required. Larger rockets require more time and elaborate preparation for launches.There is a preference for smaller satellites the world over because they are cheaper to build and launch and can be used for multiple applications, he added.As the final developmental flight of the rocket on Friday was a success, Isro will finalise and train a private consortium to start manufacturing in the long run because the country is planning to leverage its expertise to tap the commercial potential of launching small satellites. The process of selecting a consortium is on.It will take two years for the identified consortium to start the work with the support of Isro. In the meantime, NSIL will produce and assemble the rockets to meet the immediate demand to launch satellites. "This will continue till the industry can take over through the direct technology transfer route," said the official.The consortium should be ready to absorb the technology, including aerodynamics, structural design, auxiliary systems, propulsion technologies, and avionics, and set up a sustainable industry model to manufacture and periodically upgrade the designs and launch as per market demand, says the EoI document released by Isro to select a company.On Friday, the space organisation completed the third and final developmental flight of SSLV, making the launch vehicle ready for manufacture. The SSLV-D3 lifted off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, and injected two satellites (EOS-08, an earth observation satellite, and SR-Demosat) into a 475 km circular low-earth orbit.After the SSLV launch on Friday, Isro chairman S Somnath said that the identified consortium will work with Isro for two years to understand the technology and realise two vehicles that will be launched by NSIL. He also said that the spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam that can be used for SSLV launches will be ready in two years.Smaller than the workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the SSLV is 34 m tall, weighs 119 tonnes, and requires minimum launch infrastructure. It is configured as an all-solid propellant-based three-stage vehicle.