Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) - News, updates and reports

Notam for Aug 7th 2024:

A2234/24 NOTAMN
Q) VOMF/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) VOMF PART 1 OF 4 B) 2408070315 C) 2408270715
D) 0315-0715
E) ROCKET LAUNCH FM SHAR RANGE, SRIHARIKOTA WILL TAKE PLACE AS PER
FLW DETAILS.THE LAUNCH WILL BE ON ANY ONE OF THE DAY DRG THIS
PERIOD. ACTUAL DATE OF LAUNCH WILL BE INTIMATED 24 HR IN ADVANCE
THROUGH A SEPARATE NOTAM.
LAUNCH PAD COORD: 134400N 0801406E
NO FLT IS PERMITTED OVER THE DNG ZONES.
DNG ZONE 1: CIRCLE OF 10 NM AROUND THE LAUNCHER.
DNG ZONE 2: AREA ENCLOSED BY THE FOLLOWING COORD:
0930N 08340E
1010N 08410E
0710N 08650E
0630N 08620E
 
This will be followed by SSLV S1 - Q4 2024

Primary Payload: 2U cubesat named Parikshit

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Parikshit

Parikshit is a 2U-cubesat built by the Manipal Institute of Technology.

The 2 kg nanosatellite has two mission objectives: to observe the earth in the long wave infrared region band and to test an electrodynamic tether device to deorbit the satellite.

The first and primary payload is thermal imaging. Parikshit will take pictures of earth in the long wave infrared region band. This corresponds to the wavelength range of 7.5 to 13.5 microns. The region of interest will be the Indian subcontinent. The device used for this purpose is an uncooled microbolometer thermal camera supplied by FLIR Inc.

The proposed applications for this payload are:
  • To study the ocean surface temperature variation by analyzing the temperature difference over a period of 6 months.​
  • To observe the cloud cover and study the temperature variation for different types of clouds with climatic changes.​
  • To observe the temperature variations between the urban and rural areas of the Indian subcontinent which are caused due to greenhouse gases accumulated in the urban areas.​
The secondary payload, which shall be activated only after the mission life ends, is an Electrodynamic Tether for the purpose of deorbiting of the satellite. This is an experimental payload which would demonstrate successful removal of space junk and thus avoid accumulation of debris. An electro-dynamic tether consists of a conducting wire, dragged through a magnetic field. This will induce voltage across the tether, with positive at high end, and thus try to drive a current up the tether. This results in a drag force against the direction of propagation due to which the satellite will lose its altitude. Gradually it would enter the atmosphere and finally burn up. The material for the tether is Aracon. This tether will be deployed from the Satellite using a spring mechanism after the satellite's prime mission ends.​
 
Brochure for SSLV D3 is out, some new technologies being demonstrated in the satellite


Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is capable of launching Mini, Micro or Nano satellites (10 to 500kg
mass) into 500km planar orbit. SSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle with all solid propulsion stages and
liquid propulsion based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as terminal stage.
Design drivers of SSLV are Low cost, low turn-around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites,
launch on demand fea....
 
Interestingly, in the post launch commentaries by S.Somanath and other scientists, no mention was made of an upcoming satellite launch, except in a vague manner. Something like, we will be back at Sriharikota for more launches. No timeline or specific satellites or launchers. One explanation that would make sense( i mentioned this before) is that a lot of personnel have been deputed to the Gaganyaan project, of which so much time, money and spirit is invested. Not implausible! 2024 was expected to be the year of one launch per month, or at least 10 launches. We know that's not going to happen.
 

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