ISRO Upgrades SSLV Booster, Gains NASA Moon Base Invite, But Launch Costs Still Sting

ISRO quietly shipped a hardware upgrade that matters: on August 11, the agency conducted a ground static test of an improved SS1 solid booster stage for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The redesigned motor features enhanced propellant burn rate across two motor segments, an optimised thermal protection system, and production-friendly nozzle improvements that also reduced overall mass. Over 600 parameters were monitored...