BENGALURU: Isro Thursday stated that it has acquired the inexperienced mild for the development of a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at its Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, from the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The undertaking, estimated to price Rs 3,984.8 crore, is ready to boost India’s house launch capabilities and assist future human spaceflight missions.
The new facility is designed with versatility in thoughts, able to supporting each Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) and LVM3 autos with Semicryogenic levels.
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This strategic growth comes as India units its sights on bold house objectives, together with establishing its personal house station by 2035 and reaching a crewed lunar touchdown by 2040.
“The TLP might be developed with most trade participation, leveraging Isro’s in depth expertise from earlier launch pad institutions,” a govt assertion learn. The undertaking is scheduled for completion inside 48 months.
TOI had first reported in regards to the TLP in Oct 2024. In an unique interview with TOI, then Isro chairman S Somanath had stated: “We solely have the second launch pad now. The first one was created for PSLV, however it may possibly’t be used for GSLV because it can not deal with the cryogenic stage. When LVM-3 got here, we re-engineered the second launch pad. Now, LVM-3 can even have a semi-cryo stage, and the human spaceflight initially has to occur there.”
Pointing out that the second launch pad has been present process a number of enhancements previously twenty years, Somanath stated in case one thing occurs to the second launch pad — an explosion, for example — there received’t be a launch pad accessible for GSLV, and each programme will come to a standstill.
“The main goal of the third launch pad is to function a redundancy. Next is that we’re transferring to a brand new philosophy with the NGLV (New Generation Launch Vehicle); it’ll be built-in horizontally and tilted, not vertically. The launch pad should assist this facet. NGLV might be extra liquid engine booster-based than strong engine, so your entire launch pad jet deflector design will change. Also, your entire stage testing will occur right here and never at Mahendragiri. The launch pad will cater to all of this,” Somanath had stated.
