ISRO to have four functional launch pads by 2029, chairman says
ISRO chairman V Narayanan has said India will have four functional launch pads by 2029, with a dedicated small-satellite complex at Kulasekarapattinam, a first uncrewed Gaganyaan test within two months, and a Chandrayaan-5 lunar mission with Japan.
Indian Space Research Organisation chairman V Narayanan has said India will expand its space operations significantly with four functional launch pads by 2029, the Press Trust of India reported.
Narayanan outlined the roadmap at a graduation ceremony at a private university in Chennai on Saturday. It includes a 2,000-acre dedicated Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tuticorin district to meet global demand for satellite deployment, with integration buildings, launch pads, rail-track systems, and telemetry, tracking and command systems.
Clarifying that the space agency will not be privatised, Narayanan said partnering with private firms was essential to meet surging demand, and that ISRO will handhold startups and private enterprises and transfer technological expertise to foster economic growth and high-tech jobs.
On the Gaganyaan crewed programme, Narayanan said ISRO plans to conduct the first uncrewed test within the next two months, followed by two further uncrewed tests before the crewed mission. The tests will evaluate environmental control, safety systems, crew escape mechanisms and module interiors under varying pressure, temperature and humidity conditions. He said ISRO has completed about 8,000 ground-based experiments for the mission and that four astronaut-designates are in specialised training.
Looking further ahead, Narayanan revealed plans for Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative lunar mission with Japan’s space agency featuring a 350-kg rover designed to conduct 100 days of surface experiments.
Sources
More on this topic: all Science stories
