ISRO Achieves Milestone with Successful SSLV-D3 Launch, Completes SSLV Development

ISRO successfully launched the SSLV-D3 mission, placing EOS-08 and SR-08 satellites into orbit. Chairman Somanath declared SSLV development complete, marking a significant milestone for India's space program. This success, along with upcoming missions like NISAR and Gaganyaan, showcases India's growing capabilities in space exploration.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked a significant achievement on Friday, August 16, 2024, with the successful launch of the third developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D3) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. ISRO Chairman S Somanath declared the development of SSLV complete following the mission's success.

The SSLV-D3 mission successfully placed the EOS-08 satellite and SR-08 satellite into their intended orbits. Somanath confirmed that "everything is perfect" and the satellites were injected into orbit as planned with no deviations.

This achievement represents a crucial milestone for India's space program, as the SSLV is designed to carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg to Low Earth Orbit (up to 500 km above Earth). With the development phase now complete, Indian industries can utilize this rocket for future missions, supported by NewSpace India Limited, a government-owned company.

The success of SSLV-D3 marks ISRO's third consecutive triumph in 2024, following the PSLV-C58/XpoSat mission in January and the GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission in February. Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh praised the ISRO team, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support for the organization's continuous achievements.

Looking ahead, ISRO has several ambitious projects in the pipeline. These include the NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) mission, a collaborative Low Earth Orbit observatory, and the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities.

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Additionally, Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. This landmark event, along with ISRO's recent successes, underscores India's growing prominence in the global space arena and its commitment to advancing space exploration and technology.