India
ISRO plans 4 launch pads by 2029, Narayanan says
The Hindu·
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said India will have four functional launch pads by 2029. He outlined a 2,000-acre Small Satellite Launch Vehicle complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tuticorin district. Narayanan said the agency will not be privatised and will partner private firms for commercial demand. He said the first uncrewed Gaganyaan test is planned within the next two months.
Prism
What It Means For You
- A dedicated SSLV complex is meant to expand India's capacity to place small satellites for commercial customers.
- Narayanan said private partnerships are needed to meet demand for thousands of satellites.
- Gaganyaan's first uncrewed test window is within two months, with two more uncrewed flights before a crewed mission.
What's Happening
- Speaking at a private university graduation on Saturday, Narayanan set the four-pad target for 2029.
- Kulasekarapattinam plans include integration buildings, launch pads, rail tracks, and tracking systems.
- He said ISRO ran about 8,000 ground-based experiments for Gaganyaan and has four astronaut-designates in training.
What else is on ISRO's roadmap
- Narayanan also described Chandrayaan-5 with Japan, featuring a 350-kg rover for 100 days of surface work.
- He said ISRO will transfer expertise to startups and private enterprises for high-tech jobs.
- The remarks clarify that commercial partners handle volume while the agency stays publicly owned.
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