Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru: India’s space agency, ISRO, is set to mark a historic milestone with its 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota on Wednesday. This journey, spanning 46 years since the first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) launch on August 10, 1979, will accelerate significantly as ISRO targets its next 100 launches in a much shorter timeframe.
The landmark GSLV-F15 mission, scheduled for liftoff at 6:23 AM, will deploy the NVS-02 satellite, enhancing India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system.
New Era Of Space Exploration
Rajarajan A, Director of SDSC, emphasized that the increased launch frequency is driven by new stakeholders, private sector participation, and expanded launch infrastructure. “The achievement is a collective effort of generations at ISRO,” he said.
Third Launchpad And NGLV
The third launchpad (TLP), approved by the Union cabinet on January 16, will support ambitious projects like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan, and the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).
Key features of the NGLV:
• Height: 91m, 2.2 times taller than LVM3.
• Payload Capability: 20-30 tonnes to low Earth orbit.
• Purpose: Space station missions and moon landing operations.
The TLP will primarily cater to NGLV launches while serving as a backup for LVM3 and other future vehicles.
Second Spaceport In Tamil Nadu
In addition to Sriharikota’s TLP, ISRO is building a second spaceport in Kulasekharapatnam, Tamil Nadu, optimized for polar missions using smaller vehicles. The new location offers cost-effective launches, reducing fuel and energy consumption required for such missions from Sriharikota.
Kulasekharapatnam will focus on assembling and launching smaller vehicles, while Sriharikota will handle larger missions, aligning with ISRO’s goal to expand India’s space economy from $8 billion to $40 billion.
Defining The 100th Launch
Rajarajan clarified that the count includes all launches from Sriharikota’s designated pads, covering orbital missions, research experiments, commercial launches, and technology development. “It represents all significant activities from Sriharikota’s launchpads,” he said.
The Future Of Indian Space Exploration
With enhanced infrastructure, ISRO aims to lead strategic and commercial space missions globally. The milestones set by the 100th launch symbolize not only achievements but also the beginning of a more accelerated and ambitious phase in India’s space exploration journey.
