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New Launch Pad : ISRO Mulls Third One At Shriharikota Spaceport ; Process Of Identifying Vendors On Track
To move ahead with its plan of placing bigger satellites weighing over 12,000 – 14,000 kg in various orbits in space, ISRO requires bigger launch vehicles, Padmakumar ES, the Director and Distinguished Scientist of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shriharikota, said.
Picture Credit: @isro/X
Indian Space Research Organisation is in the process of developing a third launch pad at the Shriharikota spaceport and is currently identifying the right vendors for it, a top scientist said.
Shriharikota complex, which covers an area of 175 sq km, is located about 135 km east of Chennai. It has been serving the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency for the launch of various satellites using different launch vehicles.
To move ahead with its plan of placing bigger satellites weighing over 12,000 – 14,000 kg in various orbits in space, ISRO requires bigger launch vehicles, Padmakumar ES, the Director and Distinguished Scientist of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shriharikota, said.
To serve this purpose, ISRO is planning a third launch pad, he said.
“We plan to develop, install and commission a third launch pad in four years. Activities are going on for that,” he told PTI in a recent interaction.
“We are starting the procurement phase and identifying the right vendors to deliver us the support that is needed for the mega project,” he said.
Responding to a query, Padmakumar said once the third launch pad comes into operation, it would be utilised for launching over 14,000 kg satellites that will be carried by Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV).