On February 10, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the 2nd edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
It carried the following 3 satellites weighing 175.2 kg – earth observation satellite EOS-07 and two co-passenger satellites — Janus-1 and AzaadiSat2) and successfully placed them into a 450-km circular orbit around the Earth.
ISRO’s Earth Observation Satellite-07/EOS–7
Weight: 156.3 kg
It has been designed, developed and realised by Bengaluru (Karnataka) based UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO. Its new experiments include mm-Wave Humidity Sounder and Spectrum Monitoring Payload.
AzaadiSAT-2
Weight: 8.7 kg
It is a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based space startup SpaceKidz. It is the official successor of AzaadiSAT featuring a modular satellite bus expansion system capable of transforming from 8U to 64U once in orbit.
- Other payloads remains unchanged from the original AzaadiSAT
- It aims to measure various health data.
About AzaadiSAT:
It was built by schoolgirls from 75 schools across India to mark India’s 75th year of independence in 2022. 10 girls from each school were involved, for a total of 750 students involved.
- The mission was created to give girls from lower-income backgrounds the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of spaceflight, as part of the United Nations theme of women in space.
- It carried 75 different payloads each weighing around 50 grams
Janus-1
Weight: 10.2 kg
Janus-1 is a software-defined 6U demonstration satellite developed by Antaris Inc, based in the United States of America(USA).
This is the world’s first Cloud-Built Demonstration Satellite which is fully conceived, designed and manufactured using Antaris’ end-to-end cloud platform.
This launch demonstrated the designed payload capability of SSLV in LEO (Low Earth Orbit), and also marked ISRO’s first launch of 2023.
About SSLV:
It is the 6th launch vehicle designed and developed by ISRO with an outlay of about Rs 56 crore. It caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to LEO on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis.
Key Points:
i.It provides low-cost access to space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure.
ii.It is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 tonnes.
iii.The rocket can be assembled by a small team in only a few days, compared to the six months and around 600 people it takes for ISRO’s workhorse PSLV.
iv.The SSLV’s maiden flight – SSLV-D1- on August 7, 2022 was a failure as the rocket had put the two satellites — EOS-01 and AZAADISAT — in a wrong orbit resulting in their loss.
Recent Related News:
i.On 5th January 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Microsoft India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support and promote the growth of space technology startups in India.
ii.ISRO is ready to launch India’s 1st Atmamirbhar human flight “Gaganyaan” by the year 2024.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman – S. Somanath
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Establishment– 1969
