Centre approves establishment of Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota to boost space program

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the establishment of a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The new launch pad aims to support the next generation of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) launch vehicles and enhance the country’s capacity for human spaceflight missions.

The TLP will be designed to support ISRO’s upcoming Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) and serve as a backup for the existing Second Launch Pad (SLP) at Sriharikota. This new infrastructure will play a critical role in improving India’s launch capabilities, paving the way for future space exploration, including the country’s ambitious human spaceflight programs.

According to the government, the TLP will be adaptable to support not only the NGLV but also LVM3 vehicles, including those with semi-cryogenic stages, and future scaled-up versions of the NGLV. The project is expected to involve substantial industry participation, drawing on ISRO’s experience from the successful establishment of earlier launch pads, while maximizing the use of existing facilities.

The TLP project is projected to take four years to complete, with a total cost of Rs. 3984.86 crore, which includes the establishment of the launch pad and related infrastructure.

The new launch pad is expected to boost India’s space ecosystem by enabling higher launch frequencies, thus supporting the national capacity for both human spaceflight and future space exploration missions, including the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and a crewed lunar landing by 2040.

Currently, ISRO relies on two existing launch pads: the First Launch Pad (FLP), operational for 30 years, and the Second Launch Pad (SLP), which has been in use for nearly 20 years. These pads have supported significant missions, including Chandrayaan-3 and commercial launches. The new TLP will help meet the growing demand for heavier and more advanced launch vehicles, addressing the expanding vision of India’s space program over the next few decades.