Isro to have a third launch pad at Sriharkota

The union cabinet on Friday approved the setting up of a third launch pad, in addition to the existing two launch pads, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The establishment of the launch pad and associated facilities is estimated to cost Rs3,984.86 crore.

The project envisages the establishment of a launch infrastructure for the next generation heavy-lift launch vehicles, which would also serve as a standby launch pad for the second launch pad at Sriharikota. A third launch pad will also expand Isro’s launch capabilities, including manned missions in future. It will also enable Isro to increase launch frequencies.

The new launch pad will be configured in a way to support almost all launch vehicles, including NGLV, LVM3 with semicryogenic stage as well as scaled up configurations of NGLV. 

The project will be implemented with private participation, leveraging Isro’s experience in establishing existing launch pads and sharing the launch complex facilities. Construction of the launch pad is targeted to be completed within 48 months.

India’s space exploration system is currently dependent on the two launch pads in Sriharikota, which were built for launching the PSLV rockets and the GSLV and LVM3 launch vehicles.

The upcoming missions like Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan as also various commercial launches would require launch pads with greater supporting infrastructure.

The various major programmes like the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035 and the manned lunar landing set for 2040 requires a new generation of heavier launch vehicles and firmer launch pad support infrastructure.