Static test of first stage solid motor of India's mini rocket SSLV unsuccessful

Bengaluru, Mar 23 (PTI) The static test of first stage
solid motor (SS1) of ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
(SSLV) -- a new-generation compact rocket -- was not
successful, according to sources in ISRO.
"Oscillation was noticed after 60 seconds into the test
and nozzle was blown out near the bucket flange where it's
attached with the motor at around 95 seconds", sources in the
Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said.
It was supposed to be tested for a total duration of
about 110 seconds, officials said.
The Indian Space Research Organisation had targeted to
launch the first development flight of SSLV (D1) in April and
may now in all probability have to revise this schedule.
"SSLV First stage is a new solid motor...new design.
New motor has to be static tested on the ground to prove
its performance.
If it is successful, one more of the same configuration is
tested again for acceptance.
If both are successful, no more ground test is required
and third motor of the same configuration will be accepted for
flight", an ISRO official said.
SS2 and SS3 motors, igniters and SS2 flex nozzle
assembly, liquid propulsion-based VTM (Velocity Trimming
Module) thrusters, propellant tanks and propulsion components
had already been realised by ISRO and made ready for the
maiden orbital test flight.
"We have to identify the root cause of the failure and
modify the design", the official said on the unsuccessful
testing at Sriharikota spaceport in Nellore district of Andhra
Pradesh, about 100 kms north of Chennai, last week.
Asked how long it may take for ISRO to complete the two
static tests, the official said: "Maybe six months".
SSLV is two metres in diameter and 34 meters in length
with a lift-off weight of about 120 tons.
ISRO has over the years realised five generations of
launch vehicles -- SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV-MkIII.
The space agency had earlier said the SSLV is going to be
a new member of the launch vehicle family.
It is intended to cater to emerging global small
satellite launch service market.
"We are flying an earth observation satellite (EOS-02) on
board the the first development flight of SSLV", ISRO Chairman
and Secretary in the Department of Space, K Sivan said last
month.
SSLV has been designed to meet "launch on demand"
requirements in a cost-effective manner for small satellites
in a dedicated and ride share mode.
It is a three-stage all solid vehicle with a capability
to launch up to 500 kg satellite mass into 500 km low earth
orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
By comparison, PSLV -- the workhorse of ISRO -- can take
up to 1,750 kg payload into SSO of 600 km altitude.
With lower per kg launch cost, the mini launcher will
have multiple satellite mounting options for nano, micro and
small satellites.
Sivan had earlier termed the SSLV an innovative vehicle,
which can be assembled in just 72 hours.
"Instead of 60 days (for building a PSLV), it (SSLV) will
be assembled in three days; instead of 600 people (needed to
build a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be done by six people", he had
said.
Chairman and Managing Director of ISRO's commercial arm,
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), G Narayanan, recently said:
"the world over there is a big boom for small launch vehicles
and that's why we are focusing on that".
The US-based satellite ride share and mission management
provider, Spaceflight Inc., has already purchased the first
commercial launch of the SSLV (SSLV-D2) from NSIL for launch
from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Spaceflight had said at the time that it has already sold
out the entire manifest (launch) for this secured SSLV-D2
launch, with spacecraft from an undisclosed U.S.-based
satellite constellation customer.
This undisclosed customer is reportedly Seattle-based
BlackSky Global, which will launch four earth observation
satellites on board SSLV-D2 in the ride share mission arranged
Spaceflight.
"Were taking advantage of the growth in the small
satellite market to deliver more launch options with the
mini-launcher", a senior NSIL official said.
"The SSLV is the much-needed solution to fill the gap in
the portfolio of small launch vehicles," Curt Blake, CEO and
President of Spaceflight, had said.
"SSLV is designed for the launch-on-demand concept with
very quick turn-around capability in between launches.
SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple micro
satellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs",
Blake had said. PTI RS APR
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)