CHENNAI, AUG 15 :  The Countdown for tomorrow’s SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission will begin about six hours before the launch from the Spaceport of Sriharikota. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources told UNI on Thursday that it would be about six hour countdown. It is expected to commence at around 0300 hrs early tomorrow morning.

The 175.5 kg Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-08) and SR-0 DEMOSAT passenger satellite will be launched by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the SHAR Rang, Sriharikota on Friday.

The 34m tall SSLV-D3, with lift off mass of 120 tonnes and in its third and final developmental flight, carrying the two payloads will soar into the skies from the First Launch Pad at 0917 hrs from the SHAR Range.

About 17 minutes after the lift off, the EOS-08 satellite and the 0.2 kg SR-0 DEMOSAT , developed by Space Kidz India, would be injected into a 475 km circular orbit with an inclination of 37.4 deg to the equator.

ISRO had earlier scheduled the mission for today, but has re-scheduled it to Friday. No reason has been specified for deferring the launch mission from Thursday to Friday.

This mission completes the SSLV Development Project and enables operational missions by Indian industry and NSIL”, it said. EOS-08 is ISRO’s latest Earth Observation Satellite.

The objective of the Mission was to demonstrate the repeatable flight performance of SSLV Vehicle Systems.
The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites.(UNI)