INSPACe, ISRO, NSIL Sign 100th Tech Transfer for SSLV with HAL

Under its 100th technology transfer, INSPACe, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru for the transfer of SSLV technology.

• ISRO signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL, for the transfer of small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) technology.
• This agreement, which is the 100th technology transfer agreement facilitated by INSPACe, the promoter of the space sector, was signed in Bengaluru by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and INSPACe with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• A statement from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (INSPACe) said that the aim is to complete the entire technology transfer process within 24 months from the date of signing of the agreement.
• During this period, ISRO will provide HAL with necessary training and technical support to acquire knowledge of SSLV.
• Developed by ISRO, SSLV has been designed as a rapid, on-demand launch vehicle that can be efficiently scaled up for industrial production.
• Its aim is to capture the growing global market for small satellite launches. This vehicle can be launched from Sriharikota for inclined orbits and from the upcoming launch site at Kulasekharapatnam for polar orbits.

Successful launches of SSLV

• (ISRO) precisely placed the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08 into orbit in the third developmental flight of SSLV.
• In the second attempt, SSLV-D2 was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It launched the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-07 and two co-passenger satellites - Janus-1, USA and AzadiSat-2.
• The first developmental flight of this vehicle (SSLV D1), which took place in August 2022, failed to place the satellites into precise orbit.

About SSLV

• Size: about 2 meters wide and 34 meters high - about the height of an 11-storey building.
• Weight: about 120 tons at launch.
• Payload capacity: can carry satellites up to 500 kilograms into 500 km orbit.
• First stage: solid fuel engine.
• Second stage: solid fuel.
• Third stage: solid fuel.
• Final adjustment (VTM): small liquid-fuel engine (MMH + MON-3), 16 small thrusters (50 N each) for precise orbit placement.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

• Established as Hindustan Aircraft Limited, this company was founded on December 23, 1940, by visionary Shri Walchand Hirachand in collaboration with the then Mysore government in Bangalore with the aim of aircraft manufacturing in India.
• In January 1951, Hindustan Aircraft Limited was placed under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. In August 1951, under the able leadership of Dr. V.M. Ghatge, the HT-2 trainer aircraft designed and manufactured by the company flew for the first time.
• In August 1963, Aeronautics India Limited (AIL) was incorporated as a wholly owned company of the Government of India for the manufacture of MiG-21 aircraft under license. Factories were set up at Nashik (Maharashtra) and Koraput (Odisha).
• By a merger order issued by the Government of India, on October 1, 1964, the two companies, namely Hindustan Aircraft Limited and Aeronautics India Limited, were merged and after the merger, the name of the company was changed to "Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)".

IN-SPACe

• The establishment of IN-SPACe was announced in June 2020. It is an autonomous and single-window nodal agency in the Department of Space for the promotion, encouragement and regulation of space activities of both government and private entities.
• Its headquarters is in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.