Launch of ISRO’s SSLV-D2: The small aircraft’s second mission, with hope on board

Launch of the ISRO SSLV-D2 rocket, which was due to take place at 9:18 a.m., was successful and took about 15 minutes. It was the first Launch by ISRO in 2023.

The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) was successfully launched from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday (February 10) morning during its second development mission. The 450-km circular orbit around the Earth will house the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) earth observation satellite EOS-07 and two co-passenger spacecraft made by start-ups, Janus-1 and AzaadiSat2.

The smallest vehicle of the ISRO completed its mission, which was due to launch at 9.18 am, in about 15 minutes. It was the first launch of 2023 for ISRO.

What is the purpose of this launch?

The new vehicle, with launches available on demand, was created to snag a piece of the growing small and micro satellite commercial sector. In contrast to the six months and over 600 workers needed to construct ISRO’s workhorse PSLV, a small crew can construct the rocket in a matter of days.

“Our goal is to have it available in a week. It can be assembled in two days, tested for two days, and then the launch and rehearsal take place over the next two days. This time, we already did that, stated S Somanath, chairman of ISRO.

This is the follow-up launch attempt. What transpired the previous time?

In order to propel satellites into orbit, the launch vehicle first requires three solid stages, followed by a Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) powered by liquid fuel. The satellites were not placed in a precise orbit during the vehicle’s initial development flight, which failed to occur last August following numerous delays brought on by the pandemic.

This happened because the on-board system “thought” the sensors were broken due to excessive vibration that accelerometers detected during the second stage separation. The equipment bay has undergone structural alterations for the second flight, as well as modifications to stage 2’s separation mechanism and the on-board system’s logic.

After completing two successful development flights, a new vehicle is officially deemed operational by the space agency. The GSLV Mk III, officially known as LVM 3, which launched Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 was the most recent vehicle to be deemed operational.

Janus-1: What is it?

A technological demonstration satellite called Janus-1 was developed by the American company Antaris and its Indian partners XDLinks and Ananth Technologies.

“We are building a standardised satellite bus that can have various payloads connected to it like Lego blocks. As a result, businesses will be able to launch their payloads rapidly and affordably. We can take care of the operations once they’re released or we can offer the businesses access to our platform so they can run it themselves. Rupesh Gandupalli, CEO of XDLinks, stated, “We are manufacturing in India for the world.

The payloads, which can be used for a variety of purposes like earth observation, signal monitoring, or ship tracking, are supported by a satellite bus, which is the fundamental component of the satellite. For satellites weighing about 100 kg, the company wants to manufacture buses of various sizes for spacecraft.

What is AzaadiSat2?

Seven hundred and fifty female students from all throughout India created the payloads. In August of last year, SpaceKidzIndia launched a comparable satellite aboard SSLV-D1. The payloads are still LoRa amateur radio, a radiation level sensor, and sensors to gauge the satellite’s health including temperature, reset count, and inertial data, but this second satellite has an extra function.

The satellite has been made expandable by SpaceKidzIndia, a nonprofit organisation that seeks to increase children’s knowledge of space. The 8-unit satellite will have an external frame with a spring mechanism that will open up once it is in orbit. The satellite will double in size as the frame opens up.

The launch will take place on Friday, and 150 of the 750 students who worked on part of the payloads will be in Sriharikota to see it. When the spacecraft failed to enter orbit the first time, the kids handled it well, according to Kesan.

In addition, to commemorate the NCC’s 75th anniversary, the G20 emblem and a song will be carried by the satellite. Kesan was the finest cadet from Andhra Pradesh in 1992. Devi Sri Prasad, also known as DSP, wrote the “space song” about girl students and children in rural India who want to work as space scientists.