Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

Context: ISRO will launch its indigenous new launch rockets, called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) soon.
Key Points

• Dr  S Somanath (New Chairman of ISRO ) is credited with designing and developing the SSLV during his tenure as director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram since 2018.
• The maiden flight of the SSLV was scheduled to launch in July 2019 but that has since been delayed due to setbacks from Covid-19 and other issues.

Nodel agency: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) under Department of Space will be the sole nodal agency responsible for providing end to end SSLV  launch services for the customer satellite .

• SSLV has been designed to meet “Launch on Demand” requirements in a cost-effective manner..
• It is a 3 stage all solid vehicle and it is the smallest vehicle at 110-ton mass at ISRO. 
• It can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg to a low earth orbit while the tried and tested PSLV can launch satellites weighing in the range of 1000 kg.
• It will take only 72 hours to integrate, unlike the 70 days taken now for a launch vehicle. 
• Only six people will be required to do the job, instead of 60 people. 
• The entire job will be done in a very short time and the cost will be only around Rs 30 crore. It will be an on-demand vehicle.
• SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple microsatellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs. 

The vehicle would help in:

• Reduced turn-around time
• Launch on demand
• Cost optimization for realization and operation
• Flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites
• Minimum launch infrastructure requirements
• Heritage of proven design practices

Aims

• The primary aim of the project is the development of a cost-effective launch vehicle with a high launch frequency and a quick turnaround capability to cater to the growing opportunities in the global launch services market for small satellites.
• To create greater synergy between the space sector and private Indian industries.

Commercial booking and Agreements

• The SSLV received a commercial booking from US space launch services intermediary Spaceflight Inc in 2019.
• ISRO had signed six agreements with four countries for launching foreign satellites between 2021 and 2023. 
• €132 million would be earned through the launch of these satellites.