SROSS A, B, C, C2
Stretched ROhini Satellite Series

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) developed the SROSS spacecraft as follow-ons to the successful Rohini satellite series. The SROSS vehicles were designed to carry small scientific and technology payloads, including astrophysics, Earth remote sensing, and upper atmospheric monitoring experiments. The vehicles were launched aboard developmental flights of India's new ASLV launcher. SROSS 1, intended primarily to monitor launch vehicle performance, was lost when the 1st flight of the ASLV ended in failure. SROSS 2 was destroyed in the loss of the 2nd ASLV flight a year later. The third vehicle, SROSS C, was successfully placed into orbit, although in a much lower than planned orbit. The vehicle decayed on 14 July 1992, and although it returned some scientific data, was deemed only a partial success due to its much earlier than planned reentry. SROSS C2 was the first unqualified success of the SROSS and ASLV programs.

Spacecraft
Spin-stabilized. Octagonal structure. Body mounted and deployable solar panels provide ~100W (SROSS C2 had only body mounted panels). NiCd battery.

Payload
Payload capacity of 15-35 kg.
SROSS 1: carried two retro-reflectors for laser tracking.
SROSS 2: carried two instruments; a West German Monocular Electro Optical Stereo Scanner (MEOSS) and ISRO's 20-3000keV Gamma-ray Burst Experiment (GRB).
SROSS C and C2: carried a gamma-ray burst (GRB) experiment and a Retarded Potential Analyzer (RPA) experiment. The GRB monitored celestial gamma ray bursts bursts in the energy range 20-3000 keV. The RPA measured temperature, density and characteristics of electrons in the Earth's ionosphere.

Country of Origin	India
Customer/User	ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)
Manufacturer(s)	ISRO
Size	SROSS C: 0.85 m diameter, 1.1 m tall SROSS C2: 0.32 m diameter, 0.86 m tall
Orbit	SROSS C: 255 x 435 km, incl. = 46.0 deg. SROSS C2: 430 x 620 km, incl. = 46.0 deg.
Design Life	2-4 years

Launch Facts

Name	Int'l Desig.	Date	Site	Vehicle	Orbit	Mass(kg)
Notes
SROSS A	none	3/24/87	Sriharikota	ASLV	FTO	150
2nd stage failure
SROSS B	none	7/13/88	Sriharikota	ASLV	FTO	150
1st stage failure
SROSS C	1992-028A	5/20/92	Sriharikota	ASLV	LEO	106
Streched Rohini Satellite Series; carried gamma-ray detector, ionosphere monitor
SROSS C2	1994-027A	5/4/94	Sriharikota	ASLV	LEO	113
Streched Rohini Satellite Series; measured ionospheric plasma and gamma rays