Tirupati:  ISRO successfully launched the second developmental flight of the SSLV-D2 and placed three satellites in a precise orbit on Friday. ISRO is now capable of offering launches on demand, where the rocket can be assembled, tested and launched in a week’s time.

The SSLV is designed and developed to cater to the launch of mini, micro or nanosatellites (10 to 500 kg mass) to low earth orbits. According to ISRO sources it provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure. It is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module. It is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 tonnes.

Friday’s mission was completed in just 900 seconds (15 minutes) after a perfect lift-off at 9.18 am from the first launch pad at Sriharikota. The primary satellite Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-07), developed by ISRO weighing 156.3 kg; Janus-1, a 10.2 kg satellite belonging to US-based start-up firm ANTARIS and 8.7 kg satellite AzaadiSAT-2 of Chennai start-up Space Kidz India were injected into 450 km circular orbit.

According to ISRO, EOS-07 was designed in such a way that its payload instruments are compatible with microsatellite buses and new technologies that are required for future operational satellites. It also has a microsatellite accommodating new technology payloads in a quick turn-around time. ISRO chairman S Somanath had earlier said that the assembly of SSLV can be done in two days and the launch can be scheduled in a week’s time.

Speaking after the successful launch S. Somanath, Chairman of the ISRO said the country has one more rocket to launch satellites. The SSLV-D2 rocket has launched the three satellites successfully. The orbit achieved was good.  All the rocket systems worked well, he said.

Somanath said the space agency is gearing up for a commercial satellite launch with its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) by the end of March. ISRO will launch 36 satellites of the UK-based OneWeb, he added. According to him, the landing experiment for ISRO’s reusable launch vehicle will be carried out and the year-end will see the launch of the NISAR satellite, a joint project of India and the US.