Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

Why is in news? IN SPACe calls for Expression of Interest from Indian private Industries to manufacture SSLV

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre or IN-SPACe, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO has called for an Expression of Interest from Indian private Industries to manufacture Small Satellite Launch Vehicle spares and sub-systems.

According to this ISRO will transfer relevant technologies to the private industries that are showing Expression of Interest.

The Chairman of IN-SPACe, has outlined the objective of involving private players in the manufacturing of Small launchers by saying that this will pave the way for India to become a global hub for small satellite launches

The Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman ISRO has said that the private space industry in India has played a limited role in contrast to the global scenario.

ISRO needs to mentor and handhold the private industry in India for the overall development of the sector.

He hoped that the Transfer of Technology in this segment of Small launch vehicles will give a big boost to private industries' efforts to engage in the space sector.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle:

The new vehicle was developed to capture the emerging small and microsatellite commercial market.

The SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to low earth orbits on a 'launch-on-demand' basis.

The launch vehicle uses three solid stages followed by a liquid-fuel-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) to place satellites in orbit

The rocket provides low-cost access to space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure.

Earlier, the bigger satellite payloads were given importance, but as the sector grew many players emerged like Businesses, government agencies, universities, and laboratories began to send satellites. Mostly all of them fall in the category of small satellites.

IN-SPACe:

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is a single-window, independent, nodal agency that functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS) in 2020.

It is formed following the Space sector reforms to enable and facilitate the participation of private players.

IN-SPACe is responsible to promote, enable authorize and supervise various space activities of non-governmental entities including building launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services; sharing space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and establishing of new space infrastructure and facilities.

The agency acts as an interface between ISRO and Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) and assesses how to utilize India's space resources better and increase space-based activities.

It also assesses the needs and demands of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explores ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO.