Chennai: A top scientist said that ISRO is in the process of building a third launch pad at the Sriharikota spaceport and is currently identifying suitable vendors for the project. The Sriharikota complex, spread over an area of 175 sq km, is located about 135 km east of Chennai. It serves the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency for launching various satellites using different launch vehicles. Padmakumar ES, director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and a renowned scientist, said that to pursue its plan of placing large satellites weighing more than 12,000-14,000 kg in different orbits in space, ISRO needs a larger launch vehicle. He said that to achieve this objective, ISRO is planning a third launch pad. Speaking to PTI recently, he said, “We plan to construct, install, and commission the third launch pad within four years. Activities are underway for this.” He added, “We are starting the procurement phase and identifying the right vendors who will provide us with the necessary support for this mega project.” According to ISRO, the spaceport was renamed the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) on September 5, 2002, in memory of former ISRO Chairman, Professor Satish Dhawan. The centre provides world-class launch base infrastructure to national and international customers for various launch vehicle-satellite missions for remote sensing, communication, navigation, and scientific purposes. The spaceport began operations in October 1971 with the launch of the sounding rocket Rohini-125. Since then, facilities have been gradually expanded to meet the space agency’s growing needs.
ISRO expansion: Process underway for third launch pad for heavy missions
