Historic achievement for ISRO, SSLV lifts off from Sriharikota with fresh hopes

SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched its first smallest rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which would be used to deploy satellites, from Sriharikota. The rocket, carrying Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-02) and a student-made satellite AzaadiSAT, lifted off at 9:18 am, on Sunday.

AzaadiSAT was developed by 750 school girls from rural areas under the leadership of ‘Space Kidz India’. Small satellites such as the AzaadiSAT can be deployed in the low of orbit of the earth using SSLV rockets at a lower cost. With the launch of SSLV, PSLV will be relieved from the launch of small satellites.

The SSLV is designed to carry a payload of 500 kg into the orbit. The PSLV can carry a payload of up to 1,750 kg into orbit. Low cost, speed, multi-satellite capability, on-demand launch and launch infrastructure are some of the distinguishing features of SSLV.

Girl power behind AzaadiSAT

AzaadiSAT has been developed by a total of 750 girls across India. It is the result of inspiring girls to take up Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) courses. The CubeSat is a small rectangular satellite. An eight-kilogram CubeSat can carry 75 different payloads. Each weighs about 50 grams.

According to the ISRO, girls from rural areas across the country were instructed to build these payloads, which were later assembled by the student team of 'Space Kidz India'. The payloads include not only a UHF-VHF transponder operating on ham radio frequencies to enable voice and data transmission for amateur radio operators, but also a selfie camera.

AzaadiSAT also contains a long-range transponder and a solid-state PIN diode-based radiation counter to measure the ionizing radiation in its orbit. The ISRO will be utilizing a ground system, developed by Space Kidz India, for telemetry and for communicating with payloads in orbit.

“The mission is meant to promote women in STEM as this year’s UN theme is Women in Space”, said Rifath Sharook, Chief Technology Officer, Space Kidz India.