On Friday, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched the second edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2)...
Digital Desk: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the second edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) at 9:18 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan space centre's first launch pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday.
"The SSLV-D2/EOS-07 mission has been completed successfully, "SSLV-D2 successfully launched EOS-07, Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2 into their intended orbits," ISRO tweeted.
During its 15-minute mission, the new rocket will attempt to place three satellites - ISRO's EOS-07, US-based firm Antaris' Janus-1, and Chennai-based space startup SpaceKidz's AzaadiSAT-2 - in a 450 km circular orbit.
Here's everything you need to know about SSLV-D2 and its upcoming release:
According to ISRO, the SSLV can launch satellites weighing up to 500 kg into low-Earth orbit on a 'launch-on-demand' basis. The rocket provides low-cost access to orbit, has a quick turnaround time, can accommodate several satellites, and requires minimum launch infrastructure.
The SSLV is a 34-meter-tall, two-meter-diameter vehicle with a lift-off mass of 120 tonnes. The rocket has three solid propulsion stages as well as a velocity terminal module.
On August 9, last year, the first SSLV test mission ended in partial failure after the upper stage of the launch vehicle injected the satellite into a highly elliptical unstable orbit due to a velocity deficiency.
According to ISRO, the examination into the mishap also found that there was a brief vibration disturbance on the Equipment Bay (EB) deck during the second stage separation.
