ISRO successfully conducted a static ground test of an improved third stage (SS3) of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) at Solid Motor Static Test Facility, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
With this test, improved SS3 motor has been qualified for induction into upcoming SSLV flight missions, enhancing payload capacity and operational efficiency.
Key Highlights of Static Test
- Vehicle Stage Tested: SS3- Uppermost solid stage of SSLV
- Location: SDSC Sriharikota
- Test Duration: 108 seconds
- Purpose:
- Validate upgraded motor case, igniter, nozzle & control systems
- Improve payload capacity by ~90 kg
- Enhance efficiency, robustness, and reliability
Technical Improvements in SS3 Stage
Carbon-Epoxy Motor Case
- High-strength, filament-wound composite structure
- Significantly reduces inert mass
- Improves SSLV payload performance by ~90 kg
Improved Igniter & Nozzle System
- Greater efficiency and structural robustness
- Free-standing nozzle divergent for weight reduction
Fault-Tolerant Electro-Mechanical Nozzle Control
- Low-power control electronics
- Higher reliability during flight
- Ensures precise attitude & thrust-vector control
Instrumentation & Test Validation
- Around 233 measurements recorded:
- Pressure
- Thrust
- Temperature
- Vibration
- Control electronics & actuator responses
- All parameters were close to predicted values
- Result: SS3 stage fully qualified for induction into flight missions
Manufacturing & Indigenous Capability
Motor Case Realised at:
- Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) — Composites Entity
Solid Motor Casting & Testing at:
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC)
Reflects:
- Strong domestic composite manufacturing
- Increasing self-reliance in launch vehicle systems
Role of SS3 Stage (Third Stage Characteristics)
- Delivers up to 4 km/s velocity
- Uses:
- Monolithic composite motor case
- Light-weight nozzle divergent
- Plays a critical role in satellite orbital insertion
Background & Capacity Expansion (2025 Developments)
- Multiple solid-motor production facilities commissioned to boost capacity:
- New Solid Motor Production Facility- Sriharikota (July 2025)
- Second Ammonium Perchlorate Production Line- Always (Sept 2025)
- Doubles oxidizer production for solid motors
- Indigenous 10-tonne vertical propellant mixer commissioned at SDSC
- World’s largest solid-propellant mixing equipment
- SDSC facilities have also:
- Produced & static-tested solid motors for the first orbital launch vehicle developed by an Indian space start-up
- Strengthened public-private collaboration in India’s space ecosystem
About Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
- Type: Three-stage, all-solid launch vehicle
- Developed by: ISRO
- Designed to:
- Launch small satellites (~500 kg) into LEO
- Enable launch-on-demand
- Ensure quick turnaround between missions
- Support industrial production & private participation
- Complements PSLV for the growing small-satellite market
About ISRO
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- Established: 1969
- Chairperson (latest known): S. Somanath
- Key Centres:
- Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)— Thiruvananthapuram
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC)— Sriharikota
- UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC)— Bengaluru
SDSC Sriharikota
- India’s primary launch port
- Formerly: SHAR (Sriharikota High Altitude Range)
- Houses:
- Launch complexes
- Solid motor production & testing units
- Static test facilities
Solid Rocket Motors- Key Points
- Use composite propellants
- Major oxidizer: Ammonium Perchlorate
- Preferred for:
- High thrust
- Structural simplicity
- Lower turnaround & maintenance needs
Why SSLV is Important for India
- Supports small satellite & commercial launches
- Enables cost-efficient dedicated launches
- Aligns with:
- NewSpace India ecosystem
- Start-up participation
- Global nano & micro-satellite market demand