ISRO's SSLV-D3 Gears Up for Launch, Poised to Make Small Satellite Launch Highly Affordable 10 July 2024

ISRO's SSLV-D3 Gears Up for Launch

     India's space agency, ISRO, is all set for the third and final developmental flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), designable SSLV-D3 The launch is scheduled for NET (Not Earlier Than) July 10th, 2024, marking a significant milestone forward making SSLV fully operational.

SSLV is a cost-effective launch vehicle specifically designed for mini, micro, and nano satellites. Built for industry production, it caters to the growing The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO with payload capacity to deliver 500 kg (1,100 lb) to low Earth orbit (500 km (310 mi)) or 300 kg (660 lb) to Sun-synchronous orbit (500 km (310 mi)) for launching small satellites, with the capability to support multiple orbital drop-offs. SSLV is made keeping low cost, low turnaround time in mind with launch-on-demand flexibility under minimal infrastructure requirements demand for a launch on demand platform for these smaller satellites. The vehicle boasts a unique three-stage configuration. The first three stages utile sold propulsion, while the terminal stage employs a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) for precise orbital insertion.

The Liest Deveopment fight of SSLV, named SSLV D1, look place on August 7th, 2022. Unfortunately, this mission did not achieve its intended objectives However, ISRO warmed valuable lessons from this flight and incorporated them into the next iteration.

The second developmental fight, SSLV D2, launched successfully on February 10th, 2023, injecting three satellites-EOS-07, Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2 -nto thee designated 450 km circular orbit within a 15-minute flight With the successful SSLV 02 mission, ISRO is now poised for the final developmental flight, SSLV-D3 A successful launch of SSLV-D3 will pave the way for declaring SSLV fully operational, opening doors for more frequent and cost-effective launches of mini, micro, and nano satellites.