Context:
2nd spaceport of ISRO to be set up at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
About news:
- The 2nd spaceport of Indian ISRO will be dedicated exclusively for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).
- There will be no ISRO rockets launched from there.
- The SSLV will be completely transferred to the private sector
- A small space manufacturing park would also come up near the spaceport.
- The present space station of ISRO — the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota
About SSLV:
- A 3-stage launch vehicle
- 3 Solid Propulsion Stages and liquid propulsion based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
- Capable of launching approximately 500kg satellites in 500-km planar orbit.
- Key features of SSLV
- low cost
- low turnaround time
- flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites
- launch-on-demand feasibility
- minimal launch infrastructure requirements
About IN-SPACe:
- Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)
- An autonomous agency in Department of Space (DoS)
- Objectives:
- for enabling space activities, as well as, usage of DoS owned facilities by Non-Governmental Private Entities (NGPEs) and
- to permit, regulate, promote, hand-hold, monitor and supervise Space Activities of NGPEs in India.
About Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR:
- Location – Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh – a barrier island
- The Centre has 2 launch pads – PSLV and GSLV launches are carried out.
- Major launches – Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Mars Orbiter Mission and Aditya-L1.
- It has a separate launch pad for launching sounding rockets.
Source: The Hindu
Previous year question
With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 only
Answer: (a)