The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed on Thursday that its next-gen small satellite launch vehicle SSLV-D2 is ready for launch.
The SSLV-D2 will carry three new satellites into space this Friday.
These earth observation satellites are the EOS-07, AzaadiSat2, and Janus-1 and will take off at 9.18 am (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Andhra Pradesh state's Sriharikota island.
Within 13 minutes of its launch, the rocket will propell the first satellite, EOS-07, followed by the other two within a gap of a minute each. They will be placed at an altitude of about 450 km into earth's orbit, ISRO said in the statement.
All You Should Know About New Satellites
Designed by Indian scientists, the EOS-07 satellite weighing 156.3 kg will have new earth observation experiments including a wave humidity sounder and spectrum monitoring payload.
While Janus-1 is relatively lighter, weighing about 10.2 kg, this foreign satellite belongs to a US company – ANTARIS – and is meant for technology demonstration.
The third satellite AzaadiSAT-2, weighing 8.7 kg, aims to demonstrate amateur radio communication capabilities, as well as measure radiation levels in space.
Interestingly, the rocket has been built by over 750 young female students from across the country under the guidance of Chennai-based start-up Space Kidz India.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to Launch India's Next-gen Rocket SSLV-D2 on Feb 10.
© Photo : Twitter/@nkknspace
After the failure of the first launch of the SSLV-D1 in August last year, ISRO has made several changes to the satellite vehicle which is 34 metres tall with a lift-off mass of about 120 tonnes.
The next-gen three-stage rocket can accommodate multiple payloads and requires minimal infrastructure, ISRO said.