Small Satellite Launch Vehicle


The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is a small-lift launch vehicle being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation with payload capacity to deliver 500 kg to Low Earth orbit or 300 kg to Sun synchronous orbit for launching small satellites, with the capability to support multiple orbital drop-offs. On 21 December 2018, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thumba completed the design for the vehicle.
The maiden flight is expected in 2020, and all flights will launch from a dedicated launch pad in Sriharikota called Small Satellite Launch Complex. A new spaceport, under development, near Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu will handle SSLV launches when complete.
After entering the operational phase, the vehicle's production and launch operations will be done by a consortium of Indian firms along with New Space India Limited.

Vehicle description

The SSLV was developed with the aim of launching small satellites commercially at drastically reduced price and higher launch rate as compared to PSLV. The manufacturing cost of the SSLV is expected to be to.
The projected high launch rate relies on largely autonomous launch operation and on overall simple logistics. To compare, a PSLV launch involves 600 officials while SSLV launch operations would be managed by a small team of about six people. The launch readiness period of the SSLV is expected to be less than a week instead of months. The launch vehicle can be assembled both vertically like the existing PSLV and GSLVs and horizontally like the decommissioned SLV and ASLV.
The first three stages of the vehicle use solid propellant, with a fourth stage being a velocity-trimming module.
Vehicle characteristics:
The first developmental flight is expected in April 2020, and flights to inclined orbits will launch from Sriharikota, at first using existing launch pads and later from dedicated facility called Small Satellite Launch Complex. Tenders related to manufacturing, installation, assembly, inspection, testing and Self Propelled launching Unit were released in October 2019.
A new spaceport, under development, near Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu will handle SSLV launches to Sun-synchronous orbit when complete.

Planned launches