New Delhi:
With an eye on sending an Indian to the Moon, the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given permission to build a huge launch pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The Union Cabinet in a standalone decision today approved the construction of a third launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota. This will be the launch pad from where an Indian can be sent by rocket to land on the Moon by 2040.
There are already two launch pads on the spindle-shaped island of Sriharikota, about 100 km north of Chennai on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The third launch pad will be ready in four years and will cost Rs 3,984 crore to build. India’s ‘Rakshas rocket’, Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) will be placed in it.
“Today’s Cabinet decision on setting up the third launch pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh will strengthen our space sector and encourage our scientists,” Mr Modi said at the X.
Sriharikota is also host to India’s first private launch pad built by Agnikul Cosmos Pvt Ltd, from where a rocket named Agnibaan Sorted for sub-orbital flight was launched on May 30, 2024.
The NGLV is approximately 90 meters tall â taller than the Qutub Minar â and will have three times the current payload capacity with 1.5 times the cost of the LVM3. It will have reusability, resulting in low cost access to space and modular green propulsion systems.
The Center has allocated Rs 8,239 crore to develop the NNGLV, which will be completed in 96 months.
The goals of the Indian space program require a new generation of human-rated launch vehicles with high payload capacity and reusability. Therefore, development of NNGLV has been initiated to carry a maximum payload of 30 tonnes to low-Earth orbit with a reusable first stage.
India achieved self-reliance in space transportation systems to launch satellites up to 10 tonnes into low-Earth orbit and up to 4 tonnes into geosynchronous transfer orbit through currently operational launch vehicles.
So far, 99 significant launches have taken place at Sriharikota and the next launch of Geo-synchronous Launch Vehicle Mark-2 will be the 100th launch of the new generation navigation satellite.
“India’s first launch pad is used to launch the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the new second launch pad can launch both PSLV and launch vehicle Mark-III. NGLV launch when the third launch pad is ready. “And with some upgrades, it can also be launched. It will be used to send an Indian to the Moon,” said Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman Dr V Narayanan.
The third land pad is designed to have a configuration that is universal and adaptable to support not only NNGLVs, but also LVM3 vehicles with semi-cryogenic stage as well as scale-up configurations of NSLVs.
This will be realized with maximum industry participation by fully utilizing ISRO’s experience in setting up launch pads first and sharing existing launch complex facilities to the maximum.
As of today, the Indian space transportation system is completely dependent on two launch pads i.e. the first launch pad and the second launch pad.
The first was realized 30 years ago for PSLV and it continues to provide launch support for PSLV and SSLV. The second launch pad was established primarily for the GSLV and LVM3, and also serves as a standby for the PSLV.
The second launch pad has been operational for almost 20 years and has increased launch capacity towards enabling national missions including the Chandrayaan-3 mission as well as some commercial missions of PSLV/LVM3. The second is now getting ready to launch the human-rated LVM3 for the Gaganyaan mission.
The expanded vision of the Indian space program during the ‘AMRUT period’, including an Indian Space Station (BAS) by 2035 and an Indian crewed Moon landing by 2040, requires a new generation of heavy launch vehicles with new propulsion systems, which Cannot be completed. By existing launch pad.
Early establishment of a third launch pad is highly essential to meet the needs of the next generation heavy class launch vehicles and as a standby for the second launch pad to meet the growing space transportation requirements for the next 25-30 years. Can go.
India is building a second launch port at Kulasekarapattinam, a coastal village in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. This facility is being constructed on 2,350 acres. It is being designed to launch small rockets such as the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and small rockets made by private companies in India. PM Modi laid its foundation stone on 28 February 2024.
