ISRO launches SSLV-D2 rocket carrying 3 satellites from Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday launched its New Mini-Vehicle SSLV Carrying 3 Satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

The SSLV-D2 soared into the skies at 9:18 am. It will attempt to put three satellites into a 450 km circular orbit during its 15-minute flight.

The three satellites are ISRO’s EOS-07, US-based firm Antaris’ Janus-1 and Chennai-based space start up SpaceKidz’s AzaadiSAT-2, which has been developed by 750 girl students from across India, according to the space agency.

At the end of a six-and-a-half-hour countdown, the 34-metre tall rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, even as ISRO has pinned hopes on it to lead the space agency to success in tapping the small satellite launch vehicle market.

The maiden flight of LV on August 7, 2022, was a partial failure due to an orbit anomaly and deviation in the flight path of the rocket. LV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to low earth orbits on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis. It provides low-cost access to space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure.

EOS-07 is a 156.3 kg satellite which has been designed, developed and realised by ISRO. New experiments include mm-Wave Humidity Sounder and Spectrum Monitoring Payload.
While, Janus-1 is a 10.2 kg satellite, the 8.7 kg AzaadiSAT-2 is a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Space Kidz India, Chennai.
The mission objective is to inject these satellites in a 450-km circular orbit.