ISRO successfully launched SSLV-D3 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota at 9:17 am on 16 August 2024. A new Earth Observation Satellite EOS-8 was launched inside this rocket. Apart from this, a small satellite SR-0 DEMOSAT was also launched and sent as a passenger satellite. Both these satellites will revolve in a circular orbit at an altitude of 475 km from the Earth. First let us know why today’s launch was historic?
What is SSLV-D3 rocket?
SSLV means Small Satellite Launch Vehicle and D3 means third demonstration flight. This rocket will be used for launching mini, micro and nano satellites.
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With this, satellites weighing up to 500 kg can be sent below 500 km in low earth orbit or satellites weighing 300 kg can be sent into sun synchronous orbit. The altitude of this orbit is above 500km. In this launching it will reach a height of 475 kilometers. After reaching there it will leave the satellite.
The length of SSLV rocket is 34 meters. Its diameter is 2 meters. The weight of SSLV is 120 tonnes. SSLV can deliver payloads of 10 to 500 kg to a distance of 500 km. SSLV is ready in just 72 hours. SSLV is launched from launch pad 1 of Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
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EOS-8 satellite means alerts will be received from disasters
Earth Observation Satellite i.e. EOS-8 will work for environmental monitoring, disaster management and technical demonstration. Weighing 175.5 kg, this satellite has three state-of-the-art payloads – Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry Payload (GNSS-R) and SiC UV Dosimeter. In this, EOIR will take mid and long wave infrared photographs during day and night.
Will save the earth from natural disasters
These pictures will provide information about disasters. Like forest fire, volcanic activities. The wind on the sea surface will be analyzed through GNSS-R. Soil moisture and flooding will be detected. Whereas ultraviolet radiation will be tested with SiC UV dosimeter. Which will help in Gaganyaan mission.
Will help in communication and positioning
The EOS-8 satellite will revolve in a low orbit above the Earth i.e. at an altitude of 475 kilometers. From here this satellite will also provide many other technical help. Like integrated avionics system. Inside it is the Communication, Baseband, Storage and Positioning (CBSP) package. That means a single unit can do many types of work. It has a capacity of 400 GB data storage.
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How will the country benefit from the mission?
The lifespan of this mission is one year. After this launch of SSLV-D3, SSLV will get the status of a fully operational rocket. Before this, there have been two flights of this rocket. The first flight of SSLV-D1 took place on 7 August 2022. The next flight i.e. SSLV-D2 was done on 10 February 2023. Three satellites were sent in it. EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2.
This rocket is five-six times cheaper than PSLV
Internationally, small satellites are coming in large quantities. The market for their launches is increasing. That’s why ISRO made this rocket. An SSLV rocket will cost Rs 30 crore. Whereas PSLV brings in Rs 130 to 200 crores.