ISRO is all set to launch an earth observation satellite EOS-08onboard the third and final developmental flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle on Friday morning. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre spaceport located about 135 km east of Chennai is buzzing withactivity once again as ISRO gears up for a rocket launch nearly aftera gap of about six months.
The significance of the latest launch scheduled to take place from this spaceport at 9.19 am on August 16 is that it is the third and final developmental flight of the SSLV-D3. While the maiden mission of SSLV-D1/EOS-02 did not place the satellites into intended orbits in August 2022, the second developmental flight was successfully launched on February 10, 2023.
ISRO had planned for the launch to take place on August 15 at 9.17 am but it was rescheduled to August 16 at 9.19 am with a one hour launchwindow. Scientists have not cited any reason for the change in the schedule.
A SSLV rocket is shorter at 34 metres tall (compared to PSLV rockets which are 44 metres tall) and are used to place satellites (mini,micro or nano satellites) that weigh up to 500 kg below 500 km of Low Earth Orbit.
