HAL wins bid for transfer of technology of SSLV, ISRO’s rocket to place satellites

HAL has won ISRO’s bid to manufacture the SSLV, a rocket for launching small satellites into low Earth orbit. ISRO will assist HAL for two years, after which HAL can improve the design and choose its own vendors

New Delhi: In a significant milestone, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has won the bid for transfer of technology of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), ISRO’s rocket to place satellites up to 500 kg in low Earth orbit.

The announcement was made by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre Chairman Pawan Goenka at a virtual press conference. Bengaluru-based HAL, the standalone bidder, edged past two consortia helmed by Alpha Design Technologies, backed by Adani Defence Systems and Technologies, and state-backed Bharat Dynamics Limited.

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Goenka said ISRO will handhold HAL for two years, during which the PSU will have to develop two rockets with the same design and suppliers. “HAL will be free to improve on the design and select its own vendors from the third rocket,” Goenka said.

HAL Director Finance B Senapati said it was a matter of pride for HAL to have won the bid to manufacture SSLV. The SSLV is developed to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit at a shorter notice, a capability required by the defence forces in times of emergencies.

The SSLV is capable of launching satellites weighing 10 kg to 500 kg mass into a 500 km circular orbit. SSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle with all solid propulsion stages and a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as the terminal stage.

The design drivers of SSLV are low cost, low turnaround time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, launch-on-demand feasibility, and minimal launch infrastructure requirements.