Chandrayaan-3 Launch Soon, ISRO Gets Nod To Acquire Land For 2nd Launch Pad: Ex-Chief K Sivan

Currently, the ISRO has its launchpads at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, closer to Chennai from where it launches satellites on the PSLV and the GSLV.

Chandrayaan-3 Launch Soon, ISRO Gets Nod To Acquire Land For 2nd Launch Pad: Ex-Chief K Sivan (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: The Centre has approved the Karnataka government to acquire land in Kulasekharapatnam for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up its second spaceport.

Thanking the Centre and Tamil Nadu government, former ISRO chief Dr K Sivan, as quoted by news agency ANI, said, “I'm very happy that the Central govt & Tamil Nadu govt have approved for us to acquire land in Kulasekharapatnam, where very soon we'll be able to establish the second launch pad of the country.”

Karnataka | I'm very happy that the Central govt & Tamil Nadu govt have approved for us to acquire land in Kulasekharapatnam, where very soon we'll be able to establish the second launch pad of the country: Former ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan pic.twitter.com/a9ISMW90Sy

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2022

Currently, the ISRO has its launchpads at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, closer to Chennai from where it launches satellites on the PSLV and the GSLV.

The proposed launch pad will help in boosting the performance of the launch vehicle as the location allows the rockets to go directly southwards unlike in Sriharikota, where the launch vehicles have to go southeast first, avoid Sri Lanka and take a turn after crossing the island nation.

Talking about ISRO’s Chandrayaan mission, Dr Sivan said, “Soon, ISRO will be able to confirm the Chandrayaan-3 launch; I'm sure this time we'll be successful. The orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 will be utilized for this mission... it'll be cost-effective.”

Soon, ISRO will be able to confirm the Chandrayaan-3 launch; I'm sure this time we'll be successful. The orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 will be utilized for this mission... it'll be cost-effective: Former ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan pic.twitter.com/Aq7MbmkO5z

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2022

Referring to Chandrayaan-2, he said, "While conveying to the PM that I couldn't meet the expectations of 130 crore Indians & I take the responsibility, I broke down. When he saw, he immediately hugged & consoled me. In those few minutes, we didn't talk but he conveyed many things. It inspired me even more."

While conveying to the PM that I couldn't meet the expectations of 130 crore Indians & I take the responsibility, I broke down. When he saw, he immediately hugged & consoled me. In those few minutes, we didn't talk but he conveyed many things. It inspired me even more: Dr K Sivan pic.twitter.com/ZREJY1jnni

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2022

Speaking on ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, the former chief of space organisation said that its main aim is to take an Indian citizen to space on an Indian rocket from the Indian side. 

The main objective of the Gaganyaan mission is to take an Indian citizen to space on an Indian rocket from the Indian side; 2 to 3 astronauts travel to space & be in orbit of 400kms for 3 days to a week & safely land on Earth: Former ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan pic.twitter.com/qjEs4xy9Nr

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2022

“Covid-19 had an impact on all our projects but at the same time ISRO worked out its own strategy, so we could manage under difficult conditions as well... pandemic gave a new method of launching rockets, which will be implemented in every mission,” the ISRO chief further added.

#COVID19 had an impact on all our projects but at the same time ISRO worked out its own strategy, so we could manage under difficult conditions as well... pandemic gave a new method of launching rockets, which will be implemented in every mission: Former ISRO chief Dr K Sivan pic.twitter.com/xeBmK9nCxm

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2022

It is to be noted that the Tamil Nadu government had identified over 961 hectares in Thoothukudi district for the country's proposed second rocket launch port.