Context
Signalling another milestone in India’s trajectory for space launches, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the ground testing of the newly developed solid booster stage (SS1) for its new launch vehicle Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
What is Solid Booster Stage (SS1)?
- SS1 motor is a three-segmented solid propulsion stage incorporating many new technologies and innovative processes that includes
- bond-free joint between the segments
- high-power electro mechanical actuator with digital control electronics
- optimised ignitor
- simultaneous propellant casting of all segments
About ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
- The ISRO's indigenous new launch rockets, called the SSLV, will have maiden development flight in April.
- The SSLV aims to cater to the market of small satellites into Earth's low orbits that has emerged in recent years to cater to the needs of developing countries, universities for small satellites and private corporations.
- The SSLV can carry satellites weighing maximum of 500 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
- SSLV of the ISRO is a three stage launch vehicle.
- The launch vehicle uses solid fuel in all its stages of flight.
- The vehicle also features both vented and closed interstage.
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Until now, the launch of small satellites has been dependent on ‘piggy-bank’ rides with big satellite launches on ISRO’s work-horse – the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) which has had over 50 successful launches so far.
- PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is an indigenously-developed expendable launch system of the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization).
- It comes in the category of medium-lift launchers with a reach up to various orbits, including the Geo Synchronous Transfer Orbit, Lower Earth Orbit, and Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.
- All the operations of PSLV are controlled from the Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, east coast, India.
- PSLV has a four-stage system comprising a combination of solid and liquid-fuelled rocket stages.
- First: The first stage at the very bottom is solid fuelled having six strap-on solid rocket boosters wrapped around it.
- Second: Second stage is liquid fuelled
- Third: The third stage has a solid fuelled rocket motor
- Fourth: At the fourth stage, the launcher uses a liquid propellant to boost in the outer space.
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