New Delhi, NFAPost: In response to the escalating demand for small satellites, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made a significant announcement. The space agency revealed its plan to transfer the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to the private sector. The SSLV, capable of deploying satellites weighing up to 500 kg into low-earth orbit, aims to meet the growing need for on-demand services.
The declaration was made by ISRO chairman S Somanath during the inauguration ceremony of the India Space Congress, organized by SIA India. Somanath stated, “We have built our own SSLV, which will be transferred to the industry and produced in large numbers to meet the growing demand.” The transfer of the mini-rocket to the industry will take place through a bidding process, according to a senior official.
The SSLV represents the sixth launch vehicle developed by ISRO and has already undergone two development flights, one in August of last year and the other in February of this year. The initial flight in August encountered a short-duration vibration disturbance on the Equipment Bay deck during the second-stage separation, resulting in failure. However, ISRO addressed the issue through a thorough fault analysis and successfully launched the SSLV in February.
During the February launch, the SSLV carried the ISRO’s EOS-07 satellite, Janus-1 from US-based firm Antaris, and AzaadiSAT-2 from Chennai-based space start-up Space Kidz. These satellites were injected into a 450-km circular orbit, marking a significant achievement for the SSLV.
The SSLV caters to the needs of nano and micro-satellites, weighing less than 10 kg and 100 kg, respectively. It offers on-demand launch services without the requirement for clients to wait for larger rockets to accommodate them as co-passengers.
In a separate development, ISRO had previously awarded a contract to a consortium of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Larsen and Toubro for the construction of five polar satellite launch vehicles (PSLVs), known as the workhorse rocket of ISRO with 54 successful launches.
A recent report prepared by the Indian Space Association and consultancy firm EY India projected that commercial satellite launch services could contribute USD 13 billion to India’s domestic space industry by 2025.
The SSLV joins the list of launch vehicles developed by ISRO, including the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3), Advanced Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3). The SLV-3 and ASLV have since been retired, making way for more advanced technologies and vehicles in India’s space program.
