ISRO Chairman V Narayanan has announced plans to expand India's space operations significantly, with four functional launch pads expected by 2029. The expansion includes a new facility in Tamil Nadu and an additional launch pad at Sriharikota. Preliminary tests for the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission are scheduled within the next two months, and ISRO also plans to collaborate with Japan's space agency on Chandrayaan-5, a lunar mission featuring a 350 kg rover.
India's Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aims to strengthen its space operations significantly by adding four functional launch pads by the year 2029. According to ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, this expansion includes a new facility in Tamil Nadu and an additional launch pad at Sriharikota to meet global demand for satellite launches.
The upcoming spaceport facility at Kulasekarapattinam in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu, will feature essential infrastructure such as integration buildings, launch pads, rail-track systems, telemetry, tracking, and command systems.
ISRO plans preliminary tests for the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission within the next two months, followed by subsequent uncrewed tests before the crewed mission. These tests are intended to evaluate environmental control, safety systems, crew escape mechanisms, and module interiors under varying pressure, temperature, and humidity conditions. ISRO has already successfully conducted approximately 8 thousand ground-based experiments for the mission, and four astronaut-designates are currently undergoing specialized training.
In addition to the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan revealed plans for Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative lunar mission with Japan’s space agency. The collaboration involves a 350 kg rover designed to conduct 100 days of surface experiments. Mr. Narayanan also clarified that the national space agency will not be privatized. ISRO emphasizes the importance of partnering with private firms to meet surging global and domestic demands for thousands of satellites.
Source:
Akashvani News
