ISRO successfully launches SSLV's second developmental flight with three satellites from Sriharikota

The new rocket has put three satellites into a 450 km-circular orbit during its 15-minute flight 

Indian Space Research Oragnisation (ISRO) on February 10 tasted maiden success in the small satellite launch vehicle segment, with its SSLV D2 rocket injecting three satellites into an intended circular orbit, months after the maiden mission failed to bring in the desired results.

The satellites included ISRO’s earth observation satellite EOS-07.

ISRO’s first mission in 2023 and SSLV’s sequel saw a strange coincidence -- it was launched at 9.18 AM, the same time its predecessor lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here on August 7, 2022 but could not deliver due to an orbit anomaly and flight path deviation.

With the earlier SSLV not living up to the expectations, “corrective measures” were put in its successor.

A visibly relieved Chairman of ISRO, S. Somanath said SSLV in its second flight put the three satellites in the intended orbit with precision.

“Congratulations to the space community of India...we have a new launch vehicle, the small satellite SSLV. In its second attempt, SSLV D2 has placed the satellites in the intended orbit precisely. Congrats to all three satellite teams,” he said from the Mission Control Centre (MCC) soon after the successful launch that brought all round smiles.

All the problems related to the previous SSLV launch have been identified, corrective action taken and implemented in good time, Somanath added.