The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved another milestone on Friday with the successful launch of the Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The mission, which was carried out using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), marks a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities, particularly in developing and launching microsatellites.
ISRO Chief S. Somanath expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the mission during a press conference held in Sriharikota. He confirmed that the EOS-8 satellite was successfully placed into its precise orbit, which is a critical aspect of any space mission. Somanath emphasised that the mission was "almost a 100 percent success," with all stages of the satellite separation process occurring as planned.
Reflecting on the journey leading up to this success, Somanath recalled the earlier missions involving the SSLV. He mentioned that the first SSLV flight in August 2022 encountered a "near miss" due to the satellite being placed in a slightly lower orbit, which eventually led to its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
However, the team at ISRO learned from this experience, made the necessary corrections, and achieved success in the second flight in February 2023. The third flight, which took place on Friday, has now confirmed the successful development of the SSLV.
The EOS-8 mission is designed for a one-year duration and aims to advance ISRO's capabilities in designing and developing microsatellites. The mission also focuses on creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus and integrating new technologies that will be crucial for future operational satellites.
With the successful completion of the SSLV development program, ISRO is now looking ahead to the commercial phase of the SSLV project. Somanath outlined the next steps, which involve the manufacturing and launching of SSLVs for commercial purposes.
He explained that NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a public sector undertaking under the Department of Space, will play a key role in this process. NSIL will fund and oversee the realisation of rockets and launch satellites for commercial purposes.
Additionally, the ISRO chief highlighted that this mission marks the first time a technology transfer of a satellite launch vehicle will take place in India.
This transfer process will involve identifying an industry consortium capable of taking up the project, working closely with ISRO for the next two years to understand the technology, and eventually producing and launching the rockets independently.
Somanath stressed that the SSLV has been designed to be industry-friendly, with a focus on low-cost production, short assembly time, and robust architecture.
He expressed optimism about the interest from the industry and the potential for successful collaboration between ISRO and private sector companies in the future.
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