Previously the earth observation satellite, SSLV D3, was supposed to be launched on August 15

Contents

SSLV launch rescheduled: The satellite will launch a day later than the earlier schedule Small Satellite Launch Vehicle: Details of the SSLV D3 SSLV launch: What is SSLV?Also Read

On Monday, August 12, 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) postponed the launch of its latest earth observation satellite, EOS-08, from 15th August to 16th August.

The satellite will be launched aboard the (SSLV-D3) – Small Satellite Launch Vehicle’s third and final developmental flight.

SSLV launch rescheduled: The satellite will launch a day later than the earlier schedule

ISRO announced this news via their account on X, with a post reading -“SSLV-D3/EOS-08 Mission: The launch of the third developmental flight of SSLV is scheduled for August 16, 2024, in a launch window of one hour starting at 09:17 hours IST,”. The launch will take place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Earlier last week, on 7 August 2024, ISRO announced that the (SSLV)-D3/EOS-08 mission launch was scheduled at 9.17 am on August 15. They did not explain the one-day delay.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle: Details of the SSLV D3

The EOS-08 is set to contribute valuable data and insights to various scientific and practical fields. Weighing approximately 175.5kg, the EOS-08 will provide valuable assistance in environmental monitoring, disaster management, and technological demonstrations. In a statement given by ISRO on 6th August, they mentioned- “EOS-08 boasts three state-of-the-art payloads: a Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), an Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), and a SiC UV Dosimeter,” When asked about the primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission, ISRO said the objectives include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites. The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle spacecraft has a mission life of one year. With a mass of approximately 175.5 kg, it generates a power of around 420 W. ISRO stated that the satellite interfaces with the SSLV-D3/IBL-358 launch vehicle.

ISRO has informed us about all three individual payloads. The GNSS-R payload is capable of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland waterbody detection. The EOIR payload is designed to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, both during the day and night. This will help in satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring. The SiC UV Dosimeter payload will monitor UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serve as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation.

SSLV launch: What is SSLV?

The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle or SSLV is a 3-stage Launch Vehicle that is low cost, with low turn-around time, flexible in accommodating multiple satellites, with Launch-on-demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc. The SSLV was developed by ISRO specifically to cater to the incipient demand for deploying microsatellites and nanosatellites. The Indian Space Research Organisation intends to rely heavily on private industry partners for the production of the rocket, with the ultimate goal to entirely outsource the manufacturing of the rocket. Several Indian private companies are developing their launch vehicle to meet the demand.