ISRO to build third launch pad at Sriharikota

Indian space agency has proposed to set up its third rocket launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh, parliament was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said: "Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) proposes to set up a new launch pad, referred as third launch pad, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota."

The third launch pad is intended to support increased launch frequency, launching requirements of future advanced launch vehicles and also serve as a redundant launch pad for the GSLV MIII class of rockets.

Detailed studies on possible concepts/options and preliminary configuration have been carried out, he said.

The possible site for the third launch pad has been identified in Sriharikota taking into account the safety distances and maximal utilisation of existing launch pad facilities.

However, further work on design of the launch pad will be taken up at an appropriate time after finalising the configuration of the advanced launch vehicle, operationalisation of geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV MIII) rocket, programmatic requirements and resource availability.

Currently ISRO has two rocket launch pads at Sriharikota to launch GSLV and polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV).