Union Cabinet Approves Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota for ₹3,984 Crore

Synopsis

The Union Cabinet has sanctioned the development of a Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota for ₹3,984 crore, vital for future space missions, including human spaceflight. This project will enhance India's launch capabilities and support upcoming missions like the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and an Indian Crewed Lunar Landing.

Key Takeaways

Approval for a Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota.
Investment of ₹3,984 crore over four years.
Supports Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV).
Critical for future space missions, including human spaceflight.
Enhances India's space launch capacity.

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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the construction of a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at a projected expense of ₹3,984 crore.

The launch pad is slated to be developed over the next four years.

Currently, India operates two launch pads, which are insufficient for the new generation of heavier launch vehicles that are vital for upcoming space endeavors, including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) expected by 2035 and an Indian Crewed Lunar Landing planned for 2040.

According to a cabinet statement, the Third Launch Pad project aims to create launch infrastructure at Sriharikota for ISRO's Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) and will also serve as a backup for the existing Second Launch Pad.

This initiative is critical to meet the evolving demands of space transportation for the next 25-30 years.

The project will feature a universal design capable of supporting NGLV and the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LMV3) with a Semicryogenic stage, along with enhanced configurations of NGLV.

ISRO will spearhead the project with substantial industry involvement.

This initiative aims to elevate the launch capacity for future Indian human spaceflight missions.

The project is expected to strengthen the Indian Space ecosystem by facilitating more frequent launches and enhancing national capabilities for human spaceflight and exploration missions.

Presently, India has two operational launch pads at Sriharikota, which are essential for the country's space operations.

The First Launch Pad (FLP), constructed 30 years ago for the PSLV, continues to support PSLV and SSLV launches.

The Second Launch Pad (SLP), primarily built for GSLV and LVM3, has been operational for nearly 20 years, enhancing launch capabilities for commercial PSLV/LVM3 missions and national projects, including the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

SLP is also being prepared for the human-rated LVM3 launches related to the Gaganyaan missions.