Third launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Center

 

1. In January 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
    
2. The new launch pad will help the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) become future-ready, especially for using the heavier Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which is currently under development.
    

About Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC)   The Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC), located in Sriharikota, is India's only spaceport for launching spacecraft and satellites. It became operational on October 9, 1971, with the flight of Rohini-125, a small-sounding rocket. The center was initially known as SHAR (Sriharikota Range) but was renamed Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR in September 2002, in honor of Satish Dhawan, a prominent Indian space scientist. Sriharikota is located on a spindle-shaped island along the east coast of Andhra Pradesh. The strategic location of Sriharikota offers several advantages: Proximity to the Equator: This is important because launching rockets closer to the equator allows them to take advantage of Earth’s rotation, thereby providing an additional velocity boost of around 450 m/s, which can significantly enhance payload capacity. Launch Direction: Being on the east coast, it facilitates the launch of rockets in an easterly direction, ensuring they fly over the sea, which reduces the risk of damage to populated areas. Largely Uninhabited Area: The area around the space center is largely uninhabited, which ensures safety and minimizes risks to human settlements during rocket launches.

 

Current Launch Pads in India
 

Currently, ISRO operates two launch pads at Sriharikota:
 

1. First Launch Pad: Used for the launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
2. Second Launch Pad: Primarily used for launching the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and LVM3. It also serves as a standby for PSLV.
    

Significance of the New Third Launch Pad (TLP)
 

The establishment of the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at SDSC will have several important implications for ISRO:
 

1. Capacity Augmentation: The new launch pad will enable higher launch frequencies, enhancing ISRO's ability to conduct multiple missions in parallel. This is crucial for future space exploration and human spaceflight missions.
    
2. Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV): The TLP is configured to support the launch of Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV), which are being developed to accommodate heavier payloads. The TLP will also be used to launch the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) with a semi-cryogenic stage, as well as scaled-up configurations of the NGLV.
    
3. Future Space Exploration: The establishment of the TLP aligns with India’s ambitious plans for the future, including:
   1. The establishment of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035.
   2. A crewed lunar landing by 2040. These missions will require the use of next-generation, heavier launch vehicles with advanced propulsion systems.
       
4. Meeting Future Transportation Needs: The new launch pad is essential for ISRO to meet evolving space transportation requirements over the next 25-30 years.
    

Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV)
 

The NGLV Programme aims to develop a new, more powerful rocket (nicknamed the Soorya Rocket) to launch satellites, spacecraft, and other payloads. Key features of the NGLV include:
 

1. Three-stage vehicle: It will feature a reusable first stage, which will help lower the cost of access to space.
2. Semi-Cryogenic Propulsion: The booster stages will use refined kerosene as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer.
3. Enhanced Payload Capacity: The NGLV will have three times the current payload capacity and 1.5 times the cost compared to the LVM3.

 

Other Launch Vehicles of ISRO
 

ISRO operates several other launch vehicles, each serving different purposes:
 

1. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): It is a four-stage vehicle with solid rocket motors in the first and third stages and liquid engines in the second and fourth stages.
2. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): This is an operational fourth-generation launch vehicle with three stages and four liquid strap-on motors. It is used to launch communication satellites into geo-transfer orbits.
3. Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV): A three-stage vehicle, configured with solid propulsion stages and a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as the terminal stage.
4. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III (LVM3): It is a three-stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and a high-thrust cryogenic upper stage (C25).
    

Who Was Satish Dhawan?   Satish Dhawan (born in Srinagar) was a legendary Indian rocket scientist, often referred to as the ‘Father of Experimental Fluid Dynamics research’ in India. He made significant contributions to the fields of turbulence and boundary layers. In 1972, Dhawan succeeded Vikram Sarabhai as the Chairman of ISRO. Under his leadership, ISRO achieved several milestones, including: The operationalization of INSAT (India's telecommunications satellite system). The development of IRS (Indian Remote Sensing satellites). The successful launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which elevated India to the ranks of global spacefaring nations.

 

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