🚀 Science
ISRO plans four launch pads by 2029; first uncrewed Gaganyaan test in two months
In 60 seconds: India expects to have four working launch pads by 2029, ISRO chairman V Narayanan said, including a 2,000-acre complex for small satellite launches at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu. He said the first uncrewed test flight of Gaganyaan, India's human spaceflight mission, is planned within two months, followed by two more uncrewed flights before astronauts fly. ISRO will not be privatised, he added.
Why it matters
More launch pads mean more launches for India and foreign customers, and Gaganyaan would make India the fourth country to send humans to space on its own.
Explain it simply
A busy chai stall with one stove keeps customers waiting. Add three more stoves and you can serve far more cups, including big orders. Launch pads work the same way.
The 3-minute read
What happened
Narayanan spoke at a university graduation ceremony in Chennai. The Kulasekarapattinam spaceport will have integration buildings, launch pads, rail-track systems and tracking facilities. He did not detail the other pads.
Background
ISRO launches today from two pads at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Private firms are getting a bigger role, with ISRO sharing expertise with start-ups.
How it works
The uncrewed Gaganyaan tests will check life-support systems, crew safety, escape systems and how the craft handles pressure, temperature and humidity. ISRO has run about 8,000 ground tests, and four astronaut-designates are training.
What's next
ISRO is also planning Chandrayaan-5 with Japan's space agency, carrying a 350 kg rover designed to work on the Moon for 100 days.
What it means for you
India's space sector is hiring engineers and opening opportunities for start-ups building satellites and launch services.
Key numbers
- 4: Launch pads planned by 2029
- 2,000 acres: Kulasekarapattinam SSLV complex
- ~8,000: Ground tests for Gaganyaan
- 350 kg: Chandrayaan-5 rover
Both sides
- ISRO: More pads and private partners will meet growing launch demand.
- Space analysts: Timelines for big space projects often slip, so delivery matters more than plans.
Key terms explained
- Uncrewed
- A flight with no people on board.
- Launch pads
- Platforms from which rockets lift off.
The story so far
- Feb 2024: Foundation stone laid for the Kulasekarapattinam spaceport. In February 2024 the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of ISRO's new launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, for small satellite launches.
- Jan 2025: Cabinet approves a third launch pad at Sriharikota. In January 2025 the Union Cabinet approved a Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota to support heavier rockets and human spaceflight.
- Today: ISRO: four launch pads by 2029
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- ISRO's main spaceport is the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- Kulasekarapattinam is in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
- SSLV stands for Small Satellite Launch Vehicle.
- Gaganyaan is India's first human spaceflight programme.
Likely exam question: Why is India building a second spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam? What is the aim of the Gaganyaan programme?