On August 15, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Tricolour would be flown in space during India’s 75th anniversary of independence. In order to keep its promise of flying the national flag into space, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its smallest commercial rocket, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), on August 7.
While the PM’s promise was to “undertake a manned space mission on board ‘Gaganyaan’ carrying the national flag”, that project has been delayed.
ISRO’s SSLV, on the other hand, is a feat in and of itself, as it was designed to place satellites and payloads weighing less than 500 kg into Earth’s lower orbit. The official launch will take place on August 7 at 9:18 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
75 payloads built by 750 young girl students
To commemorate the country’s ‘Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,’ the SSLV will carry a co-passenger satellite called ‘AzaadiSAT,’ which will contain 75 payloads built by 750 young girl students from 75 rural government schools across India. This project was created specifically for the 75th anniversary of the American Revolution to encourage scientific temper and provide opportunities for young girls to pursue careers in space research.
The SSLV weighs around 120 tonnes and can carry up to 500 kg into space. Standing 34 metres tall, the launcher is regarded as one of ISRO’s best and most cost-effective workhorses.
New satellite as a “game changer”
ISRO chairman S Somanath describes the new satellite as a “game changer” that will propel India’s ambitions to enter the lucrative and thriving small satellite launch market. This cost-effective rocket, which can be launched on demand, has been designed for large-scale production with the shortest turnaround time. The SSLV’s successful launch will contribute to more collaborations between the space sector and other private Indian companies, particularly in the global market for small satellites.
According to ISRO officials, the SSLV is capable of launching mini, micro, and nano satellites (10-500 kg mass) into a 500 km planar orbit. The SSLV intends to design and build an agile and experimental satellite with payload imaging. It will also provide vital information in the fields of forestry, hydrology, agriculture, soil science, and coastal studies.
“The payloads are integrated by the student team of Space Kidz India. The payloads include a UHF-VHF transponder working in ham radio frequency to enable voice and data transmission to amateur audio operator, a solid state PIN diode-base Radiation counter to measure the ionising radiation in its orbit, a long range transponder and a selfie camera,” ISRO said.
“The ground station system developed by Space Kidz India will be utilised for receiving the data from this satellite,” it added.
ISRO has confirmed that ‘AzaadiSAT’ will conduct “femto experiments.”
Young students have developed an 8-kg satellite
According to a senior official, young students have developed an 8-kg satellite, and the payloads will include an accelerometer, temperature sensors, and radiation counters gyroscope, with a six-month life expectancy. IN-SPACeIND and SpaceKidz India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for ‘AzaadiSAT.’
Rifath Sharook, Chief Technology Officer of Space Kidz India, said theirs was a “first of its kind” space mission. “This is the first of its kind of an all-women concept to promote women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as this year’s UN theme is ‘Women in Space’,” Rifath told.
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