ISRO gears up to launch its new-generation mini rocket on maiden flight

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is getting ready to launch a new- generation compact rocket on its maiden orbital test flight, the space agency said.Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO has over the years realised five generation of launch vehicles -- SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV-MkIII.

It had taken up development of the mini rocket -- Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) -- to cater to emerging global small satellite launch service market.Multiple sources in ISRO said on Thursday SSLV-D1 is targeted to be launched towards the end of March or early April -- most likely in the first month of the financial year -- though no firm date has been set so far.

"We are flying an earth observation satellite (EOS-02) on board the the first development flight of SSLV", ISRO Chairman and Secretary in the Department of Space, K Sivan told PTI.

SSLV has been designed to meet "launch on demand" requirements in a cost-effective manner for small satellites in a dedicated and rideshare mode.It is a three-stage all solid vehicle with a capability to launch up to 500 kg satellite mass into 500 km low earth orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).By comparison, PSLV -- the workhorse of ISRO -- can take up to 1,750 kg payload into SSO of 600 km altitude, according to ISRO officials.

With lower per kg launch cost, the mini launcher will have multiple satellite mounting options for nano, micro and small satellites.Sivan had earlier termed the SSLV an innovative vehicle which can be assembled in just 72 hours.

"Instead of 60 days (for building a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be assembled in three days; instead of 600 people (needed to build a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be done by six people", he had said.

Chairman and Managing Director of ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), G Narayanan said: "world over there is a big boom for small launch vehicles and that's why we are focusing on that".

"As soon as SSLV-D1flight is over successfully, further roadmap (for SSLV) will be charted out", Narayanan told PTI.

In fact, Seattle, US-based satellite rideshare and mission management provider, Spaceflight Inc., has already purchased the first commercial launch of the SSLV (SSLV-D2) from NSIL for launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.Spaceflight had said at the time that it has already sold-out the entire manifest (launch) for this secured SSLV-D2 launch, with spacecraft from an undisclosed U.S.-based satellite constellation customer.This undisclosed customer is reportedly Seattle-based BlackSky Global which will launch four earth observation satellites on board SSLV-D2 in the rideshare mission arranged Spaceflight.

"We're taking advantage of the growth in the small satellite market to deliver more launch options with the mini-launcher", a senior NSIL official said.

The SSLV is the much-needed solution to fill the gap in the portfolio of small launch vehicles, CEO and President of Spaceflight, Curt Blake, had said.

"SSLV is designed for the launch-on-demand concept with very quick turn-around capability in between launches. SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple microsatellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs", Blake had said.