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ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

Posted on August 10, 2022 by admin1  812

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  • Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) maiden’s small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) carrying earth observation satellite EOS-02 and co-passenger students’ satellite AzaadiSAT, didn’t go as planned.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

  • About:
    • SSLV has been designed to meet “Launch on Demand” requirements in a cost-effective manner. 
    • It is 3 stage all solid vehicle with a capability to launch upto 500 kg satellite mass into 500 km LEO.
  • Aim:
    • ISRO developed a small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) to cater the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on ‘launch-on-demand’ basis. 
    • SSLV is capable of launching Mini, Micro, or Nanosatellites (10 to 500 kg mass) to a 500 km planar orbit. 
  • Features:
    • Reduced Turn-around Time
    • Cost Optimization for Realization and Operation
    • Flexibility in accommodating Multiple Satellites
    • Minimum launch infrastructure requirements
    • Launch demand feasibility
    • Minimal launch infrastructure requirements
  • Satellites on board:
    • The primary EOS-2 Earth-observing satellite and the secondary AzaadiSAT student satellite.
      • EOS-02 is an earth observation satellite designed and realised by ISRO. This microsat series satellite offers advanced optical remote sensing operating in infra-red band with high spatial resolution.
      • AzaadiSAT is a 8U Cubesat weighing around 8 kg. It carries 75 different payloads each weighing around 50 grams and conducting femto-experiments.
  • Significance:
    • The demand for the launch of small satellites has increased at a rapid pace in the last eight to ten years, due to the ever-growing need for space-based data, communication, surveillance, and commerce.
    • SSLV provides low-cost access to Space on demand basis. 
    • It offers low turn-around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, launch-on-demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc. 
  • Failure:
    • The problem appeared to be the SSLV’s terminal stage, called the velocity trimming module (VTM).
    • The mission failed as the SSLV-D1 placed the satellites in an elliptical orbit instead of a circular one rendering them no longer usable.

Difference between circular and elliptical orbits

  • Mostly objects such as satellites and spacecrafts are put in elliptical orbits only temporarily. 
  • They are then either pushed up to circular orbits at a greater height or the acceleration is increased until the trajectory changes from an ellipse to a hyperbola and the spacecraft escapes the gravity of the Earth in order to move further into space.
  • Satellites that orbit the Earth are mostly placed in circular orbits. 
    • One reason is that if the satellite is used for imaging the Earth, it is easier if it has a fixed distance from the Earth. 
    • If the distance keeps changing as in an elliptical orbit, keeping the cameras focussed can become complicated.

Source: TH

 
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