SSLV Discussion Thread

[K210]

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[Galactic Penguin SST]

Are you sure that this is the PSLV-3S (core alone variant minus second stage, if I understand correctly)? The CA variant is around 230 t in mass and the second stage is only around 40 t, very far from the 100 t figure quoted.

I also doubt that any rocket with multiple segments solid stages can be prepared in 3 days and somehow shaves 90% of cost magically.

[Skyrocket]

Are you sure that this is the PSLV-3S (core alone variant minus second stage, if I understand correctly)? The CA variant is around 230 t in mass and the second stage is only around 40 t, very far from the 100 t figure quoted.

I also doubt that any rocket with multiple segments solid stages can be prepared in 3 days and somehow shaves 90% of cost magically.

I agree - this one is likely not the PSLV-3S. It must be a new development (especially stage 1), with perhaps some heritage on the PSLV

[sanman]

The Agni-V ICBM is supposed to weigh 50 tonnes, whereas the launch vehicle they're talking about is supposed to weigh 100 tonnes. It doesn't sound like they're the same thing. Although you'd think anything that has to be quickly assembled for launch in 3 days would likely be comprised of all solid-fuel elements.

[chota]

Preliminary work to design and develop an ambitious small launch vehicle began about three months ago

And the launcher should be able to put satellites of up to 500-600 kg in orbits close to the Earth

VSSC has designed the vehicle using the rocket technology that it already has and is awaiting ISRO’s approval

We are looking at having a demonstration launch in a year, in the 2018-19 time frame,

The development cost would be kept low at a few crore as the new launcher’s requirement of advanced electronics is considerably lower

A small launcher that can be got up perhaps in three days by a small team

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-developing-a-compact-launcher-for-small-satellites/article21420644.ece

[chota]

According to Sivan, the preliminary design for the proposed four-stage rocket that would weigh around 100 tonnes is ready and its feasibility study has also been conducted

Sivan said the first rocket would be ready in two years once the project gets the necessary approvals.

http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/isro-developing-small-rocket-cash-small-satellite-boom-73143

[worldtimedate]

ISRO's baby rocket to carry small satellites, likely to take off in 2019

The first of Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) 'baby rockets' in the making is likely to take to the skies in the first half of 2019, top officials of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) said. Though a formal approval for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) project is still awaited, VSSC here at Thumba - ISRO's nodal agency for launch vehicles - has already started work on it, VSSC director K Sivan said.

On the launchpad, the SSLV will stand half as tall as a regular Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and weigh in the neighbourhood of 100 tonnes, Sivan said. "A PSLV weighs over 300 tonnes. The SSLV's weight would be around 100 tonnes and its height, 20-25 metres," he said. The PSLV, often dubbed the reliable workhorse of the ISRO, stands 44 metres tall in comparison.

The SSLV will place small satellites in the Low Earth Orbit "orbits with altitudes up to 2,000 km. "We hope to have the first flight of the SSLV in the first half of 2019. Across the globe, satellites are 'shrinking'. Now, small satellites go aboard the PSLV or GSLV as 'piggyback' payloads alongside bigger ones," Sivan said.

The mission cost will be roughly one-tenth that of a PSLV mission. ISRO is planning to have the SSLV flying fully on solid fuel, but the technicalities have to be worked out, Sivan said. If things go as planned, the SSLV will be ISRO's smallest launch vehicle.

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[Skyrocket]

Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to "SSLV set to launch by 2019"

[Steven Pietrobon]

Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to "SSLV set to launch by 2019"

The article says first half of 2019. So, are there any Indian ICBMs that are about 100 t? The Agni III and Agni V are only 50 t. Agni VI is 55 to 70 t and is still is in development.

[vineethgk]

Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to "SSLV set to launch by 2019"

The article says first half of 2019. So, are there any Indian ICBMs that are about 100 t? The Agni III and Agni V are only 50 t. Agni VI is 55 to 70 t and is still is in development.

The first stage is likely all-new maybe ~70 tonnes or so. They could perhaps use motors from Agni-V for the second stage, but its unlikely as the two projects are under different agencies. There is also a question whether using stages from an in-service ballistic missile for a civilian launch vehicle is acceptable from the perspective of national security. (It has happened the other way round in the past though, with SLV-3's first stage essentially ending up as Agni-TD/Agni-1)

I would take that 2019 target with a pinch of salt. ISRO might be habitually quoting a rather optimistic schedule as usual. Perhaps 2020 or later is more likely.

The claim of one-tenth cost could be a bit exaggerated too, in my view. Perhaps that's what they are ultimately targeting for via mass production involving private firms.

[vineethgk]

SSLV operations to be entrusted to the private industry after development flights

"Beyond  these, we are developing a new launch vehicle to put small satellites to space.

We want to hand over its technology and production to industry right from the beginning after doing one or two technology demonstration flights. We will do this through [ISRO's business entity] Antrix Corporation."

[sanman]

...will be ready for launch by 2019. It will be able to carry 500kg - 700kg to LEO and will cost 1/10th the amount of a normal PSLV...

So what kind of launch price is that likely to translate into?
~$2million maybe?

Gee, a Tata Nano only weighs ~600kg 
If corporate sponsors could pay to cover the car with their logos, that might be enough to cover the costs.

But I wonder what the fairing width would be?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Looks like we have the first info of the composition of this new launcher:

https://twitter.com/orfonline/status/964400636279205888

Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?

[Kryten]

Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?

2m diameter matches the Agni-3/5 series; but none of the motor lengths match, as far as I can tell.

[Kosmos2001]

That's a large "1st stage" vs "rest of the stages" ratio. If the number after the letter S means the mass.

[vineethgk]

Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?

2m diameter matches the Agni-3/5 series; but none of the motor lengths match, as far as I can tell.

The S7 mentioned as second stage appear to match PS3 of the PSLV where the motor itself has 2m dia.

[Skyrocket]

Looks like we have the first info of the composition of this new launcher:

https://twitter.com/orfonline/status/964400636279205888

Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?

The S85 looks like it is composed of various motor segments from the S139 which forms the first stage of PSLV and GSLV MK-2. The S-7 is the third stage of PSLV. S-4 seems to be a new motor. The optional fourth stage is the PS4 from PSLV.

It looks like a very cost effective launch vehicle. I would put the cost at less then $5 million per launch. 

No, the S85 has a different diameter than the the S139. The optional fourth stage is likely not the PS-4 from PSLV, which would be somewhat oversized.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Looks like we have the first info of the composition of this new launcher:

https://twitter.com/orfonline/status/964400636279205888

Can someone who is well versed with Indian missiles and rockets comment if existing solid rocket motors may have been used here?

The S85 looks like it is composed of various motor segments from the S139 which forms the first stage of PSLV and GSLV MK-2. The S-7 is the third stage of PSLV. S-4 seems to be a new motor. The optional fourth stage is the PS4 from PSLV.

It looks like a very cost effective launch vehicle. I would put the cost at less then $5 million per launch.

That would be a world record even given the cost in India - but I have great doubts due to the big segmented
first stage. This one is bigger than similar rockets in the US, Europe and Japan and their costs are in the $35 - 50 million range, and they use single body rocket motors.

They will be pretty good if they can fly it at less than $20 million price (though ISRO won't be out of customers even at higher costs).

[TrevorMonty]

Needs to be in $5-10m range as it will be competing directly with LauncherOne and Electron for smaller payloads.

[Skyrocket]

with 500 kg payload to LEO and 116 t lift off mass, SSLV has a pretty poor payload ratio compared to other solid fuel rockets.

For comparison:
Vega has a launch mass of 137 t and can orbit 1430 kg to LEO.
Taurus/Minotaur-C has a launch mass of 73 t and can orbit 1320 kg to LEO.