ISRO Successfully Launches EOS-08 Satellite on SSLV-D3, Declares SSLV Development Complete

On Friday, August 16, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite onboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The SSLV-D3, in its third and final developmental flight, lifted off at 9:17 AM and precisely injected the EOS-08 satellite into a 475 km circular orbit 17 minutes later.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath confirmed the successful deployment, stating, "The third developmental flight of SSLV, the SSLV-D3 with the EOS-08 satellite, has been successfully accomplished. The rocket has placed the spacecraft in a very precise orbit as planned."

With the success of SSLV-D3, ISRO has officially declared the SSLV's development process complete and is now set to transfer the technology to industry partners for serial production and future launches. "This is a great beginning," Somanath added, indicating the readiness for the commercial phase of SSLV operations.

The EOS-08 mission, the first of its kind, is built on ISRO’s Microsat/IMS-1 platform, equipped with advanced payloads including an Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), a Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and a SiC UV Dosimeter. These systems are designed for Earth observation, technology demonstration, and novel data acquisition.

The mission also showcased new technology developments in satellite mainframe systems, such as an Integrated Avionics system, flexible solar panels, and nano star sensors, setting the stage for future advancements in ISRO’s satellite capabilities.