Cabinet nod to build third launch pad at Sriharikota
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved establishment of the third launch pad at ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The decision was taken on a day the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully docked two satellites in space, enabling India to become the fourth country in the world after the US, China and Russia to achieve the feat.
The third launch pad project envisages the establishment of the launch infrastructure for ISRO’s next generation launch vehicles (NGLV) and also to support (as standby launch pad) the second launch pad at Sriharikota. This will also enhance the launch capacity for future Indian human spaceflight missions.
“The project is of national importance,” an official press note said.
The third launch pad is designed to have configuration that is as universal and adaptable as possible. It will be able to support not only the NGLV, but also the LVM3 (launch vehicle mark-3) vehicles with semicryogenic stage as well as scaled up configurations of the NGLV.
It will be realised with maximum industry participation, fully utilising ISRO’s experience in establishing the earlier launch pads and maximally sharing the existing launch complex facilities. The third launch pad is targeted to be established within a duration of four years.
The total fund requirement for the project, including the launch pad and associated facilities, is Rs 3,984.86 crore. The project is aimed at boosting the Indian space ecosystem by enabling higher launch frequencies and the national capacity to undertake human spaceflight & space exploration missions.
At present, the Indian space transportation system is completely reliant on two launch pads. The first was built 30 years ago and it continues to provide launch support for the PSLV and the SSLV. The second was established 20 years ago primarily for the GSLV and the LVM3. It also functions as a standby launch pad for the PSLV.
