Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet's decision to clear a proposal to build a third launchpad at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The launch facility, formally known as "Third Launch Pad" (TLP), will be established at a cost of Rs 3,984.9 crore.

ISRO to Get a Third Launch Pad News | Here are 10 things to know about the Third Launch Pad and about ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre: 

  • The TLP project envisages the establishment of the launch infrastructure at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, for ISRO's next generation launch vehicles (NGLVs) and to serve as a standby launch facility for the Second Launch Pad at the centre, according to an official statement. 
  • The Third Launch Pad is set to enhance the launch capacity for the country's human spaceflight missions in the future.
  • The government aims to complete the setup of the third launch pad within four years (48 months).
  • "The project is of national importance," the Union Cabinet said.
  •  The proposed launch pad will have a configuration as "universal and adaptable" as possible, supporting not only NGLVs but also Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) vehicles "with semicryogenic stage as well as scaled up configurations of NGLV".
  • It will be realised with maximum industry participation, fully utilising ISRO’s experience in establishing the earlier launch pads and maximally sharing the existing launch complex facilities.
  • The total project cost covers the establishment of the launch pad as well as its associated facilities.
  • The Cabinet said that the launch pad project will boost the country's space ecosystem "by enabling higher launch frequencies and the national capacity to undertake human spaceflight & space exploration missions".
  • Currently, the country's space transportation systems rely reliant on two launch pads: First Launch Pad (FLP) and Second Launch Pad (SLP). While the first facility provides support for PSL and SSL vehicles, the other functions as standby for PSLVs. The Second Launch Pad is also getting ready to launch the human rated LVM3 for the Gaganyaan missions.
  • The planned third facility is set to support the evolving space transportation requirements for another 25-30 years.
With agency inputs