ISRO'S new SSLV program

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated27/01/2022

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is in process of developing a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) with private participation.
The satellite will be launched in first quarter of 2022.

SSLV is being developed with the aim of launching small satellites commercially at a reduced price and higher launch rate as against the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
SSLV is a small-lift launch vehicle being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The SSLV have the capability to support multiple orbital drop-offs.
Design of the vehicle was completed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thumba on December 21, 2018.
Funds: Government has sanctioned Rs 169 Crores to develop this project including the qualification and development of the vehicle systems as well as flight demonstration by three development flights namely, SSLV-D1, SSLV-D2 and SSLV-D3.
Features: They are cost-effective, three-stage, all-solid launch vehicles with a payload capability of 500 kg to 500 km planar orbit or 300 kg to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit.
Benefits: SSLV is ideal for the on-demand, quick turn-around launch of small satellites.
Launch Date: First developmental flight of SSLV is targeted to launch during the first quarter of 2022.

Private Industry will help in realizing the Hardware and structures for SSLV development project including:
Solid motor cases
Nozzle sub-systems
Mandrels for casting of solid motors
Inter-stage structures
Actuator motors
Fixtures will be realised through private industry.

ISRO is the space agency under the Department of Space of Government of India, headquartered in the city of Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Its vision is to harness space technology for national development, while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.
Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL) is a Marketing arm of ISRO for promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.

PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) are the satellite-launch vehicles developed by ISRO.
PSLV: It delivers the “earth-observation” or “remote-sensing” satellites in polar orbit.
Apart from launching the remote sensing satellites to Sun-synchronous polar orbits, the PSLV is also used to launch the satellites of lower mass of about 1400 Kg to the elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
It is a four-staged launch vehicle with first and third stage using solid fuel and second and fourth stages using liquid fuel. Strap-on motors also used with PSLV to augment the thrust.
PSLV is classified into its various versions like core-alone version (PSLV-CA) or PSLV-XL variants.
GSLV: It delivers the communication-satellites to the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) of about 36000 Km altitude.
Two versions of the GSLV are developed by ISRO and testing phase of third version is going on. The first version, GSLV Mk-II, has the capability to launch satellites of mass up to 2,500 kg to the GTO.
GSLV MK-II is a three-staged vehicle with first stage using solid fuel, second stage using Liquid fuel and the third stage, called Cryogenic Upper Stage, using cryogenic engine.

Light weight: The SSLV is the smallest vehicle at 110-ton mass at ISRO.
Fast integration: It will take only 72 hours to integrate, unlike the 70 days taken now for a launch vehicle.
Low man power required: Only six people will be required to do the job, instead of 60 people.
Cheap: The entire job will be done in a very short time and the cost will be only around Rs 30 crore.