Why is it in the news?
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ISRO’s second rocket launchport at
- Located in coastal Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, the Rs 986 crore facility is strategically positioned for commercial, on-demand, and small satellite launches, catering exclusively to these missions.
Reasons for Building a New Launchport
- Increasing Demand for Launches: With the recent policy shift opening up India’s space sector to private players, there’s an anticipated increase in the number of commercial satellite launches.
- Prevent Overburdening: The existing Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota has been handling all launches, including both government and commercial missions. Building a new launch port helps prevent overloading this facility, ensuring efficient operations.
- Dedicated Infrastructure: The new launchport at Kulasekarapattinam is specifically designed for commercial, on-demand, and small satellite launches. This specialization enhances efficiency and streamlines operations for these types of missions.
Location and its advantages
- Geographical Advantage: Kulasekarapattinam, situated in coastal Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, offers strategic advantages due to its proximity to the sea.
- Strategic Positioning for SSLV Launches: The location allows for direct southward trajectories, particularly beneficial for missions involving the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). This minimizes fuel consumption and enhances efficiency.
- Equatorial Proximity: Both Kulasekarapattinam and Sriharikota launchports are located close to the equator, which is advantageous for satellite launches due to the higher velocity imparted by Earth’s rotation.
| About SSLVs
· SSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle designed specifically for launching small satellites. · Capable of launching satellites weighing between 10 to 500kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). · SSLVs are ideal for commercial and on-demand launches, offering cost-effective solutions for launching mini, micro, or nano satellites. · SSLVs offer lower costs and shorter flight times for satellite insertion into orbits, making them attractive for various satellite projects. · SSLV is a relatively new addition to ISRO’s launch capabilities, aimed at catering to the growing demand for small satellite launches. · The SSLV-D1 mission encountered a failure, but subsequent SSLV-D2 mission achieved success, indicating progress in SSLV development. · SSLV launches have been conducted from the existing SHAR facility in Sriharikota. Features of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) · Situated along the east coast of Andhra Pradesh, SHAR is equipped with essential facilities for launch operations, including solid propellant processing, telemetry services, and mission control. · SHAR houses two launch complexes, utilized for launching various launch vehicles, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and GSLV Mk-III/LVM3.
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