Chennai/Hyderabad, Oct 25 (Maxim News): India plans to expand its space launch infrastructure, with four functional launch pads targeted by 2029, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has announced.
The expansion aims to meet growing domestic and global demand for satellite launches. Narayanan also highlighted plans for a dedicated Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.
The proposed complex will cover around 2,000 acres. It will include integration buildings, launch facilities, rail-track systems and telemetry, tracking and command infrastructure.
Narayanan said ISRO would continue working with private companies and startups to meet rising launch demand. However, he clarified that the national space agency would not be privatised.
Gaganyaan Tests and Chandrayaan-5 Plans
Narayanan said ISRO planned to conduct its first uncrewed Gaganyaan test within the next two months. Two more uncrewed tests are planned before the crewed mission.
These tests will evaluate environmental control systems, crew escape mechanisms and other safety features. They will also assess the spacecraft’s internal conditions under different pressure, temperature and humidity levels.
The ISRO chairman said the agency had completed around 8,000 ground-based experiments for Gaganyaan. Meanwhile, four astronaut-designates are undergoing specialised training.
Narayanan also outlined plans for Chandrayaan-5, a proposed lunar mission in collaboration with Japan’s space agency.
The mission is expected to feature a 350-kilogram rover designed to conduct surface experiments for 100 days. The project would further expand India’s lunar exploration programme.
The launch infrastructure expansion is also expected to create opportunities for private space companies. ISRO plans to transfer technological expertise and support startups as India seeks a larger role in the global space sector.
However, Narayanan did not provide details about the locations of all four planned launch pads. The announcement sets out the agency’s target for expanding launch capacity by 2029.
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