![]() Artist's impression | |
Function | Launch vehicle |
---|---|
Manufacturer | ISRO |
Country of origin | India |
Cost per launch | ₹30 crore (US$4.2 million) [1] |
Size | |
Height | 34 m (112 ft) |
Diameter | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
Mass | 120 t (120 long tons; 130 short tons) |
Stages | 4 [2] |
Capacity | |
Payload to low Earth orbit | |
Altitude | 500 km (310 mi) [3] |
Inclination | 45.0° |
Mass | 500 kg (1,100 lb) |
Payload to Sun-synchronous orbit | |
Altitude | 500 km (310 mi) [3] |
Mass | 300 kg (660 lb) |
Associated rockets | |
Comparable | |
Launch history | |
Status | In construction |
Launch sites | SDSC SHAR |
Total launches | 0 |
First flight | April 2021 (planned) [4] |
First stage – SS1 | |
Motor | S85 |
Fuel | Solid |
Second stage – SS2 | |
Motor | S7 |
Fuel | Solid |
Third stage – SS3 | |
Motor | S4 |
Fuel | solid |
Fourth stage – Velocity Trimming Module | |
Fuel | Liquid |
The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (or SSLV) is a small-lift launch vehicle being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (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))[3] for launching small satellites, with the capability to support multiple orbital drop-offs.[5][6][7] On 21 December 2018, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba completed the design for the vehicle.
The maiden flight is expected in April 2021,[8][4] from First Launch Pad[9] and in future a dedicated launch pad in Sriharikota called Small Satellite Launch Complex (SSLC) will be set up.[10] A new spaceport, under development, near Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu will handle SSLV launches when complete.[11][12]
After entering the operational phase, the vehicle's production and launch operations will be done by a consortium of Indian firms along with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).[13][6][14][15][16][17][18]
The SSLV was developed with the aim of launching small satellites commercially at drastically reduced price and higher launch rate as compared to Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The development cost of SSLV is ₹120 crore (US$17 million)[9] and the manufacturing cost is expected to be ₹30 crore (US$4.2 million) to ₹35 crore (US$4.9 million).[19][14][1]
The projected high launch rate relies on largely autonomous launch operation and on overall simple logistics. To compare, a PSLV launch involves 600 officials while SSLV launch operations would be managed by a small team of about six people. The launch readiness period of the SSLV is expected to be less than a week instead of months.[20][21] The launch vehicle can be assembled both vertically like the existing PSLV and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and horizontally like the decommissioned Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV).[22]
The first three stages of the vehicle use solid propellant, with a fourth stage being a velocity-trimming module.
Vehicle characteristics:[23][24]
The early developmental flights and those to inclined orbits will launch from Sriharikota,[10] at first using existing launch pads and later from dedicated facility called Small Satellite Launch Complex (SSLC).[25] Tenders related to manufacturing, installation, assembly, inspection, testing and Self Propelled launching Unit (SPU) were released in October 2019.[26][27][28]
A new spaceport, under development, near Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu will handle SSLV launches to Sun-synchronous orbit when complete.[29][30][31]
Date / time (UTC) | Rocket, Configuration |
Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 2021[32][33] | SSLV
|
SDSC SHAR
|
EOS 02 (142 kg) [34][35][36][37] | LEO | Indian Armed Forces |
SSLV-D1; first demonstration flight, aiming for 350 km orbit. | |||||
2021 [38][13][39] | SSLV
|
SDSC SHAR
|
Global-5, Global-6, Global-9, Global-10 | LEO | Spaceflight Industries |
SSLV-D2, second demonstration flight carrying four 56 kg Blacksky Global satellites to ~500 km circular orbit with 50° inclination. |
A study has been carried out to identify suitable locations for establishment of a launch pad for the small satellite launch vehicle. It was found that the locations in the western sea coast near Gujarat did not meet some of the criteria for establishing the launch pad.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR SUPPLY, INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING OF RAIL TRACK FOR SLC PROJECT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROCUREMENT, MANUFACTURE, SUPPLY, TESTING and COMMISIONING OF SELF PROPELLED UNITS FOR SLC
RFP document for Supply of Stainless Steel Tanks
Global-5 through Global-8 are currently scheduled to be launched in November 2019 on a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) by the Indian Space Research Organization from its Satish Dhawan Space Center.