Will Kulasekarapattinam replace Sriharikota?

[ashok321]

http://newstodaynet.com/chennai/will-kulasekarapattinam-replace-sriharikota



Chennai: Highlighting various advantages of setting up the country's third satellite launch pad at the Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Kulasekarapattinam, scientists and activists have submitted a memorendum to the Centre.

In their plea to Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh, they said the facility near Mahendragiri is known for being at the closest proximity of eight degrees to the equator which is ideal for various space related activities.

Speaking to 'News Today', Senior Scientist at IPRC, Nalla Kannu, expressed his wish for the launch station to be built in Mahendragiri.

The centre is popular for making the country's indeginous cryogenic engines for rockets.

According to scientists at ISRO, rockets launched from Mahendragiri require only three stages and can carry an additional payload of 700 to 750 Kg.

They can effectively avoid the fourth stage to perform YAW manuover to avoid crossing Sri Lanka and parts of Indonesia.

This will save Rs 1,500 crore to the government every five years. In addition, Mahendragiri is not affected by cyclones unlike Sriharikota and also will not get affected by countdown of rockets at other launch stations unlike Sriharikota which already has two launch stations.

This is the second initiative taken in this regard after the memorandum submitted on 20 June by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, A S Kiran Kumar to consider opening an Aerospace Park in the same centre along with setting up of the third rocket launching centre.

It is learnt that the trade body was also interested in partnering with ISRO in setting up allied industries making polymers, propellants and chemicals.

The memorandum noted, India is already having two Launch Pads in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh for launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rockets.

So the third launch pad should be set up at Kulasekharapattinam in Tamilnadu, which is very near to Mahendragiri, where the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) is located with all the requisite facilities.

Further stressing the need for the launch station in Tamilnadu, the memorandum argued that the launch pads in other countries including America and Russia are located at different places instead of one place, for strategic and scientific reasons.

Also heavier satellites can be launched from the said station with the advantage of better safety factors.

It also pleaded for setting up 'Indian Institute of Aerospace and Propulsion Technology' (IIAPT) in the campus of IPRC at Tamilnadu.