(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) 2nd ROCKET LAUNCH PORT OF ISRO

(APRIL-2024)

ISRO Chairman S Somanath informed recently that it may take up to two years for the completion of the construction at the site.

The new facility could permit anywhere between 20 to 30 SSLV launches, annually.
Recently, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) second rocket launchport in Kulasekarapattinam.
The facility, which costs Rs 986 crore, is located in the Thoothukudi district of coastal Tamil Nadu at a strategically excellent location. In the future, it will be widely and solely utilized for small-scale, on-demand, commercial satellite launches.

Increased Launch Traffic: With India’s space sector now welcoming private companies, a significant increase in commercial launches is anticipated. To manage this growing volume of activity, building a new launchpad becomes essential.
Sharing the Load: ISRO’s current launch complex, The Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota Range (SHAR), could become overloaded if it’s expected to handle both large-scale missions and smaller satellite launches. A new facility dedicated to smaller payloads would help distribute the workload and ensure efficient operations.
Encourages private investment, fostering innovation and competition in the space sector.

SSLV-D1 faced failure in August 2022, delivering two satellites.
In February 2023, SSLV-D2 achieved success when it launched three satellites from SHAR into a 450 km circular orbit, completing the trip in 15 minutes.
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, was the launchpad for both SSLV missions.