SSLV Discussion Thread

[A.K.]

It would be much better for the Indian Air Force to acquire and maintain their own separate launch capability, by carrying out their own SSLV launches to fulfill their mission requirements.

Otherwise ISRO's going to wind up in the crosshairs.

Now you expect soldiers to become rocket scientists too?

Actually militaries around world have such rockets. US got Minataur, Russia got SMART-I while China got Kuaizhou. Such quick reaction rockets facilitate to immediately fill the gap created NY ASATs. It's our version.

[abhishek]

It would be much better for the Indian Air Force to acquire and maintain their own separate launch capability, by carrying out their own SSLV launches to fulfill their mission requirements.

Otherwise ISRO's going to wind up in the crosshairs.

IAF runs on  limited funds,so it is financially nonviable for the IAF to operate and maintain it's own launch program.

[A.K.]

It would be much better for the Indian Air Force to acquire and maintain their own separate launch capability, by carrying out their own SSLV launches to fulfill their mission requirements.

Otherwise ISRO's going to wind up in the crosshairs.

Now you expect soldiers to become rocket scientists too?

Actually militaries around world have such rockets. US got Minataur, Russia got SMART-I while China got Kuaizhou. Such quick reaction rockets facilitate to immediately fill the gap created NY ASATs. It's our version.

My bad, not SMART-1. There's no Russian quick rocket in my knowledge.

[jcm]

It would be much better for the Indian Air Force to acquire and maintain their own separate launch capability, by carrying out their own SSLV launches to fulfill their mission requirements.

Otherwise ISRO's going to wind up in the crosshairs.

Now you expect soldiers to become rocket scientists too?

Actually militaries around world have such rockets. US got Minataur, Russia got SMART-I while China got Kuaizhou. Such quick reaction rockets facilitate to immediately fill the gap created NY ASATs. It's our version.

My bad, not SMART-1. There's no Russian quick rocket in my knowledge.

I think perhaps you mean Start-1, based on the Topol ICBM,  which when it was introduced in 1993 was expected to have such a role, although never really used for that. It last flew in 2006.

[Danderman]

What entity will be selling this launcher to customers? Antrix?

[sanjaykumar]

What entity will be selling this launcher to customers? Antrix?

NSIL -  Newspace India Limited
https://thewire.in/space/newspace-india-isro
While the space agency currently has a commercial arm – Antrix Corporation Limited – according to Sivan, Newspace India will play a different role since Antrix is solely involved in commercial launches of foreign satellites

Other than commercially exploiting the tech transfer of SSLV, PSLV programmes and lithium-ion cells etc, Newspace India is also meant to market space-based products – in India and abroad.

[PM3]

https://thewire.in/space/newspace-india-isro

That article is a bit confusing; the referenced Economic Times Article is clearer: Newspace India will handle the licensing of ISRO-developed technology to the companies which will manufacture the SSLV on behalf of ISRO. (The first 1-2 SSLV are made by ISRO itself, then private companies will build the launcher. - source)

As far as I undestand it, Antrix is still in charge of selling the SSLV launches. Btw, they expect 50-60 launches per year (source).

[tijojose]

PSLV Integration Facilities (PIF) Project RFP https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/tenders/pt-16_04.pdf shows the size and likely integration facility for SSLV. New track laid from PIF to FLP and FLP likely converted to Integrate, Transfer and Launch (ITL) based aproach similar to VAB on SLP. This will allow significantly increased launch cadence.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

New SSLV brochure as found at NSIL India's website.

[gongora]

There should be a separate thread for the SSLV launch instead of turning this launch vehicle discussion thread into a mission thread.

[sanman]

So is it possible to have a "kick stage" for SSLV, like there is for Rocketlab's Electron?

Or is that out of the question?

[zubenelgenubi]

There should be a separate thread for the SSLV launch instead of turning this launch vehicle discussion thread into a mission thread.

Done!
SSLV D1 https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=49715.0
SSLV D2 https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=49717.0

[russianhalo117]

So is it possible to have a "kick stage" for SSLV, like there is for Rocketlab's Electron?

Or is that out of the question?

Yes and no. The third stage is equipped with a trim module (FKA Post Boost Stage). It is assumed that these stages still separate but is no longer implied that it is a full on upper stage in newer documentation.

[TheVarun]

 A very reputable Space website, still has the SSLV D1 being launched in January 2020. This same site puts the RISAT-2BR2 in the  February slot, which is what ISRO has mentioned.

 So is there still a chance of a January lift off for the SSLV's first flight?

[Ragmar]

Has an SSLV payload guide (not the technical brochure) been released yet?

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Amid COVID-19 pandemic, Mission SSLV resumes at ISRO rocket launch station

[Danderman]

New SSLV brochure as found at NSIL India's website.

Hmmm... according to this document, payload capacity increases, as inclination increases from 20 degrees to 45 degrees, so that 45 degrees inclination provides the maximum payload.

Since the launch site is at 13 degrees latitude, there must be some technical factor that optimizes for 45 degrees, maybe a requirement for a dogleg maneuver after launch for every payload, that must be later compensated if the final inclination is less than 45 degrees. Since there are no immediate downrange land masses to the east of the launch site, drop zones must be the issue.

[Danderman]

So is it possible to have a "kick stage" for SSLV, like there is for Rocketlab's Electron?

Or is that out of the question?

Yes and no. The third stage is equipped with a trim module (FKA Post Boost Stage). It is assumed that these stages still separate but is no longer implied that it is a full on upper stage in newer documentation.

Is flying the trim module a requirement? OR could the third stage handle separation commands without the trim stage?

[otter]

The article says that "a fault occurred in the nozzle section" during the SSLV engine static fire test.

https://eenadu.net/apmukyamshalu/mainnews/general/25/121057539

[PM3]

The article says that "a fault occurred in the nozzle section" during the SSLV engine static fire test.

https://eenadu.net/apmukyamshalu/mainnews/general/25/121057539

Here is the full Google translation of that short article:

Sriharikota, News Today: A technical glitch occurred during the motor test of the small satellite carrier (SSLV) conducted on Thursday at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sharjah, the Indian Space Launch Center. Preparations are underway to launch the first small satellite carrier from Sharjah in April. As part of this, a constant test was performed on the SS1 solid fuel motor in the SSLV carrier and a fault occurred in the nozzle section. Scientists are conducting reviews to find out the error. ISRO will conduct a static test again after identifying and correcting the error.

The article was published on Friday. So they did a test of one of the three solid engines on March 18 and something was wrong with the nozzle. The test is qualified as "స్థిర", which is translated as "constant" and "static" here and can also mean "fixed".

So what kind of test was this? Can be either a stage fire test on a test stand, or some non-fire checkout of one of the SSLV-D1 stages. If they are still in the process of stage fire testing, then the April launch date was bogus.

Anyway, this will not launch in April and not in Q2. Could slip to 2022 if they need to redesign the nozzle.