Isro to set up spacecraft R&D centre, rocket sub-systems unit

The Indian Space Research Organisation plans to set up an advanced R&D centre in the field of spacecraft technologies in Karnataka's Chitradurga and rocket sub-systems integration facility near the spaceport of Sriharikota in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Isro Chairman K Radhakrishnan said the space agency has got 530 acres of land in the science city in Chitradurga, where Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Defence Research and Development Organisation are also building their facilities.

"We are developing it (land in the science city) for advanced research and development centre in the area of spacecraft technologies", he told a press conference here.

Isro Satellite Centre Director T K Alex said that with annual production of satellites on the rise at Isro, the space agency finds that the Bangalore centre is not sufficient. Isro wants to add new research and production capacities in Chitradurga campus which would be used for its activities in the area of advanced communication and remote sensing.

Radhakrishnan said Isro, IISc, BARC and DRDO have decided to set up common facilities such as hospitals, schools and colleges in Chitradurga science city.

He also said Isro plans to set up near Sriharikota facilities for integration of sub-systems of rockets, currently being done by industries in different parts of the country.

Radhakrishnan said the idea is to bring sub-systems integration activities by industries and Isro closer to the launch site at Sriharikota.

Discussions are on with the Andhra Pradesh government as well as with industries to set up these proposed facilities on 250-300 acres of land near Sriharikota, he added.

He said the idea is to take up integration activities closer to the launch site in a controlled quality environment which would result in "better reliability" and cut down on wastage of time and risks involved in bringing such systems from different parts of the country.

Radhakrishnan said Isro is setting up a multi-mission ground segment for earth-observation satellites at Shadnagar near Hyderabad. He added that a national data base for emergency management for the country is also coming up there.

A hypersonic windtunnel facility is in final stage of commissioning at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, he said.