Editorial of the Day (7th Mar): India's Second Rocket Launch Port

Editorial of the Day (7th Mar): India’s Second Rocket Launch Port

PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the second rocket launch port of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu.

Table of Contents

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the second rocket launchport of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
It will be extensively and exclusively used for commercial, on-demand, and small satellite launches in the future.

Why does India need a new Launch Port?

Increased Launch Traffic: The Indian government’s new policy allowing private players in the space sector is expected to lead to a significant rise in commercial launches.
Easing Burden on Existing Port: To avoid overloading the existing Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) with the increased launch volume, a new facility is needed.
Dedicated Purpose:
- SHAR will focus on launching larger payloads and India’s major missions (Moon, Venus, Gaganyaan).
- The new Kulasekarapattinam launch port will be dedicated to handling smaller payloads for commercial launches.
Private Sector Participation: The new launch port will provide infrastructure for private companies to:
- Develop space-qualified components.
- Build satellites.
- Launch their own vehicles.

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Reasons for New Launchport Location in Tamil Nadu

Geographical Advantage for SSLVs:
- Kulasekarapattinam’s location offers a natural benefit for launching Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).
- It allows a straighter southward trajectory, saving fuel compared to the eastward detour needed from SHAR due to Sri Lanka’s proximity.
- This strategy is crucial for maximising payload capacity of lightweight SSLVs with limited fuel.
Proximity to Equator:
Both launchports are situated in southern India near the equator.
As explained in the book “From Fishing Hamlet to Red Planet: India’s Space Journey,” closer proximity to the equator provides a significant velocity boost (around 450 m/s) due to Earth’s rotation, ultimately increasing payload capacity.
This is particularly advantageous for launching geostationary satellites, which require positioning in the equatorial plane.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs)

What are they? Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs) are a new ISRO development designed specifically for launching small satellites.
Key features: Three-stage solid propulsion with a liquid propulsion terminal stage
Applications: Launching small satellites (10-500kg) into Low Earth Orbit for various purposes:
- Mini, micro, or nano satellites
- Lower cost compared to larger launch vehicles
- Faster satellite insertion due to shorter flight times
Target users:
- Commercial satellite launches
- On-demand launches
- Previously used by college and private space projects

India’s SSLV Journey

SSLV-D1 (August 2022): First mission, carrying two satellites (EOS-02 and AzaadiSat).
- Launch was successful, but failed to insert satellites into the intended elliptical orbit due to an issue during separation.
SSLV-D2 (February 2023): Second mission, carrying three satellites.
- Successful launch, inserting satellites into the intended 450 km circular orbit.
Launch Sites: Both missions launched from SHAR.