The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to deliver 500 kg (1,100 lb) payload to low Earth orbit (500 km (310 mi)) or 300 kg (660 lb) payload to Sun-synchronous orbit (500 km (310 mi)).

[12][13][14] The maiden flight SSLV-D1 was conducted from First Launch Pad on 7 August 2022,[9][15] however, the payload failed to reach the intended orbit.

[18] Once SSLV is operational, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and a group of Indian companies will manage the mass production and launch activities.

[34][35] Tenders related to manufacturing, installation, assembly, inspection, testing and Self Propelled launching Unit (SPU) were released in October 2019.

[36][37][38] This new Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport, under development, near Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu will handle SSLV launches to Sun-synchronous orbit when complete.

[42] In National Space Science Symposium 2016,[43] then Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, S. Somanath also acknowledged a need for identifying a cost effective launch vehicle configuration with 500 kg payload capacity to LEO[44] and by November 2017, development of such launch vehicle was underway.

[46] The aerodynamic characterization research was conducted at the National Aerospace Laboratories' 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility.

[51] To qualify for flight, SSLV's solid first stage SS1 has to perform two consecutive nominal static fire tests.

[60] This led to the two satellites as well as the VTM stage of the rocket being injected into an unstable elliptical transatmospheric orbit of 360.56×75.66 km with an inclination of 36.56°.

The purpose of SSLV-D2 is to launch the three satellites into a 450-kilometer circular orbit and showcase the in-flight performance of the SSLV vehicle systems.

[66] According to SSLV-D1 fault evaluation study, six onboard accelerometers detected vibrations that were longer in duration and more intense during the second stage of separation.

In order to ensure that this problem doesn't occur again, the second stage detachment system in SSLV-D2 was modified to reduce vibrations.

Furthermore, the system was redesigned to navigate utilizing NavIC data and readings will now be monitored for a longer time before entering rescue mode.

[67] The separation mechanism, the equipment bay, and the on-board system for identifying malfunctioning sensors were further modified and five new pieces of hardware were installed.

The development team will continue to search for specific operational activities in the VTM stage before ISRO supplies the industry with SSLV technology for serial production.

The winning company is expected to pay about ₹3 billion ($30 million), covering design know-how, manufacturing processes, quality-assurance training, and up to 24 months of technical support for launches.