India To Have 4 Space Launch Pads By 2029: ISRO

CHENNAI: India will significantly expand its space operations with four functional launch pads by 2029, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman V. Narayanan has said, outlining plans for a new spaceport, greater private sector participation and upcoming lunar and human spaceflight missions.

Speaking at a private university's graduation ceremony on Saturday, Narayanan said a dedicated Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) complex would be developed on 2,000 acres at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin district to cater to growing global demand for satellite launches.

The facility will have launch pads, integration buildings, rail-track systems and telemetry, tracking and command infrastructure.

Narayanan said ISRO would increasingly collaborate with private companies to meet the growing demand for satellite launches and commercial space operations.

Clarifying that ISRO would not be privatised, he said the agency would support startups and private enterprises through technology transfers, helping create thousands of high-technology jobs and boost economic growth.

"India will expand its space operations significantly with four functional launch pads by 2029, supported by an increasing reliance on private industry partnerships to handle commercial operations," he said.

However, he did not elaborate on the other three launch pads.

Turning to India's human spaceflight programme, Narayanan said Isro planned to conduct the first uncrewed Gaganyaan test within two months, followed by two more uncrewed missions before sending astronauts into space.

The tests would assess environmental control, safety systems, crew escape mechanisms and spacecraft interiors under varying pressure, temperature and humidity conditions.

He said Isro had completed around 8,000 ground-based experiments for Gaganyaan, while four astronaut-designates were undergoing specialised training.

Narayanan also outlined plans for Chandrayaan-5, a joint lunar mission with Japan's space agency, featuring a 350-kg rover designed to conduct experiments on the Moon's surface for 100 days.