Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Encyclopedia
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) (सतीश धवन अंतरिक्ष केंद्र, సతీష్ ధావన్ అంతరిక్ష కేంద్రం) is the launch centre for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
. It is located in Sriharikota
, Andhra Pradesh
, India
,80 km (49.7 mi) north of Chennai
in South India
. It was originally called Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR), and was sometime known as Sriharikota Launching Range. The centre was renamed to its present name in 2002 after the death of ISRO's former chairman Satish Dhawan
. The space centre has kept the title SHAR during these name changes.
was launched. The first attempted launch of an orbital satellite
, Rohini 1A aboard a Satellite Launch Vehicle
, took place 10 Aug 1979, but due to a failure in thrust vectoring of the rocket's second stage, the satellite's orbit decayed 19 Aug 1979.
The SHAR facility now consists of two launch pads, with the second built recently(when?). The second launch pad was used for launches beginning in 2005 and is a universal launch pad, accommodating all of the launch vehicle
s used by ISRO. The two launch pads will allow multiple launches in a single year, which was not possible earlier. India's lunar orbiter Chandrayaan 1
launched from the centre at 6:22 AM IST on 22 October 2008.
SHAR will be the main base for the Indian human spaceflight program
. A new third launchpad will built specifically to meet the target of launching a manned space mission by 2015.
& Tamil Nadu
, about 70 km (43.5 mi) north of Chennai
, is the spaceport of India. This island was chosen in 1969 for setting up of a satellite launching station. Features like a good launch azimuth corridor for various missions, advantage of earth's rotation for eastward launchings, nearness to the equator, and large uninhabited area for the safety zone — all make Sriharikota Range, popularly known as 'SHAR', an ideal spaceport. Off naidupet a big town in Nellore
district, Andhra Pradesh on the national highway connecting Chennai and Kolkata
— a 20-minute drive towards the east on the road laid across the Pulicat Lake
takes one to Sriharikota
. SHAR was named as 'Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR' (SDSC), on 5 September 2002, in memory of Prof Satish Dhawan, former Chairman of the ISRO.
SHAR covers a total area of about 145 square kilometre with a coastal length of 27 km (16.8 mi). Prior to its acquisition for ISRO by the Indian Government, its was a firewood plantation of Eucalyptus and Casuarina trees. This island is affected by both south-westerly and north-easterly monsoons, but heavy rains come only in October and November. Thus many clear days are available for out-door static tests and launchings.
, it is India's primary orbital launch site to this day. The first flight-test of 'Rohini-125', a small sounding rocket which took place on October 9, 1971 was the first ever spaceflight from SHAR. Since then technical, logistic and administrative infrastructure have been enhanced. Together with the northerly Balasore Rocket Launching Station, the facilities are operated under the ISRO Range Complex (IREX) headquartered at SHAR.
125 sounding rockets were launched on 9 and 10 October 1971. Previously, India used Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
(TERLS), on the west coast of India, to launch sounding rockets. The first test launch of the complete SLV-3 rocket occurred in August 1979 but it was only partially successful following a malfunction in the second stage guidance system. SHAR facilities worked satisfactorily during the SLV-3 preparation and launch. On 18 July 1980 the SLV-3 successfully launched India's third satellite. Out of the four SLV launches from SHAR, two were successful.
orbital launcher was integrated vertically, beginning with motor and subassembly preparations in the Vehicle Integration Building (VIB) and completed on the pad within the 40 m tall Mobile Service Structure. The first ASLV launch from SHAR took place in 1987 and resulted in a failure. Eventually, out the four ASLV launches from 1987–94, only one was successful.
. The Vehicle Assembly, Static Test and Evaluation Complex (VAST, previously STEX) and the Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant (SPROB) are located at SHAR for casting and testing solid motors. The site also has a Telemetry Tracking & Control centre, the Management Service Group and Sriharikota Common Facilities. The PSLV launch complex was commissioned in 1990. It has a 3,000 tonne, 76.5 m high Mobile Service Tower (MST) which provides the SP-3 payload clean room.
The solid propellant space booster plant(SPROB) processes large size propellant grains for the satellite launch vehicles. The Static Test & Evaluation Complex (STEX) tests and qualifies different types of solid motor for launch vehicles. The closed center at SHAR houses computers and data processing, closed circuit television, real-time tracking systems and meteorological observation equipment. It is linked to three radars located at Sriharikota and the five stations of ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking & Command Network (ISTRAC
).
The propellant production plant produces composite solid propellant for rocket motors of ISRO using ammonium perchlorate (oxidiser), fine aluminium powder (fuel) and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (binder). The solid motors processed here include those for the first stage booster motor of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) — a five segmented motor of 2.8 m diameter and 22 m length, weighing 160 tons with a thrust level of 450 tons.
Rocket motors and their subsystems have to be rigorously tested and evaluated on ground before they are declared flight worthy. The facilities at SDSC SHAR are used for testing solid rocket motors, both at ambient conditions and simulated high altitude conditions. Besides these, there are facilities for conducting Vibration, Shock, Constant Acceleration and Thermal/humidity tests.
SDSC SHAR has infrastructure for launching satellites into low earth orbit, polar orbit and geo-stationary transfer orbit. The launch complexes provide support for vehicle assembly, fuelling, checkout and launch operations. The Centre also has facilities for launching sounding rockets for atmospheric studies. The mobile service tower, launch pad, preparation facilities for different launch stages & spacecraft, storage, transfer and servicing facilities for liquid propellants, etc., are the principal parts of the PSLV/GSLV launch complex.
For supporting the GSLV Mk III
programme additional facilities are being set up at SDSC. A new plant is being set up to process heavier class boosters with 200 tonnes of Solid propellant. The static test complex is being augmented for qualifying the S-200 booster. Other new facilities include a Solid Stage Assembly Building, Satellite Preparation and Filling Facility and Hardware Storage buildings. The existing liquid propellant and cryogenic propellant storage and filling systems, Propellant Servicing Facilities will also be augmented. The range instrumentation system will be enhanced further.
Indian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...
. It is located in Sriharikota
Sriharikota
Sriharikota is a barrier island off the coast of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It houses India's only satellite launch centre in the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and is used by the Indian Space Research Organisation to launch satellites using multi-stage rockets such as the Polar...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
,80 km (49.7 mi) north of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. It was originally called Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR), and was sometime known as Sriharikota Launching Range. The centre was renamed to its present name in 2002 after the death of ISRO's former chairman Satish Dhawan
Satish Dhawan
Satish Dhawan was an Indian rocket scientist and a pioneer aerospace engineer who was born in Srinagar, India and educated in India and the United States...
. The space centre has kept the title SHAR during these name changes.
History
The centre became operational 1971 when an RH-125 sounding rocketSounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
was launched. The first attempted launch of an orbital satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
, Rohini 1A aboard a Satellite Launch Vehicle
Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle or SLV was a project started in the early 1970s by Indian Space Research Organisation to develop the technology needed to launch satellites. The project was headed by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. SLV was intended to reach a height of 400 km and carry a payload of...
, took place 10 Aug 1979, but due to a failure in thrust vectoring of the rocket's second stage, the satellite's orbit decayed 19 Aug 1979.
The SHAR facility now consists of two launch pads, with the second built recently(when?). The second launch pad was used for launches beginning in 2005 and is a universal launch pad, accommodating all of the launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
s used by ISRO. The two launch pads will allow multiple launches in a single year, which was not possible earlier. India's lunar orbiter Chandrayaan 1
Chandrayaan
Chandrayaan-1 was India's first unmanned lunar probe. It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation in October 2008, and operated until August 2009. The mission included a lunar orbiter and an impactor...
launched from the centre at 6:22 AM IST on 22 October 2008.
SHAR will be the main base for the Indian human spaceflight program
Indian human spaceflight program
The Indian human spaceflight program is a proposal by the Indian Space Research Organisation to develop and launch the ISRO Orbital Vehicle, which is to carry a two-member crew to Low Earth Orbit by 2016. The spaceship would be launched by India's GSLV-Mk II launcher.- Preparations :On August 9,...
. A new third launchpad will built specifically to meet the target of launching a manned space mission by 2015.
Location
Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, located at Sriharikota, a spindle shaped island on the East Coast of Andhra Pradesh, adjacent to Sricity, a developing satellite city in the epicentre of Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
& Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, about 70 km (43.5 mi) north of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, is the spaceport of India. This island was chosen in 1969 for setting up of a satellite launching station. Features like a good launch azimuth corridor for various missions, advantage of earth's rotation for eastward launchings, nearness to the equator, and large uninhabited area for the safety zone — all make Sriharikota Range, popularly known as 'SHAR', an ideal spaceport. Off naidupet a big town in Nellore
Nellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
district, Andhra Pradesh on the national highway connecting Chennai and Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
— a 20-minute drive towards the east on the road laid across the Pulicat Lake
Pulicat Lake
Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish – water lake or lagoon in India. It straddles the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states on the Coromandal Coast in South India. The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary...
takes one to Sriharikota
Sriharikota
Sriharikota is a barrier island off the coast of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It houses India's only satellite launch centre in the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and is used by the Indian Space Research Organisation to launch satellites using multi-stage rockets such as the Polar...
. SHAR was named as 'Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR' (SDSC), on 5 September 2002, in memory of Prof Satish Dhawan, former Chairman of the ISRO.
SHAR covers a total area of about 145 square kilometre with a coastal length of 27 km (16.8 mi). Prior to its acquisition for ISRO by the Indian Government, its was a firewood plantation of Eucalyptus and Casuarina trees. This island is affected by both south-westerly and north-easterly monsoons, but heavy rains come only in October and November. Thus many clear days are available for out-door static tests and launchings.
Launch History
Originally known as the Sriharikota Range (SHAR) and later named after Satish DhawanSatish Dhawan
Satish Dhawan was an Indian rocket scientist and a pioneer aerospace engineer who was born in Srinagar, India and educated in India and the United States...
, it is India's primary orbital launch site to this day. The first flight-test of 'Rohini-125', a small sounding rocket which took place on October 9, 1971 was the first ever spaceflight from SHAR. Since then technical, logistic and administrative infrastructure have been enhanced. Together with the northerly Balasore Rocket Launching Station, the facilities are operated under the ISRO Range Complex (IREX) headquartered at SHAR.
Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV)
The range became operational when three RohiniRohini sounding rocket series
Rohini series is a series of sounding rockets developed by ISRO for meteorological and atmospheric study purposes. The rockets in this series are named RH an abbreviation of rohini, followed by a numeral indicating its diameter...
125 sounding rockets were launched on 9 and 10 October 1971. Previously, India used Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station is an Indian spaceport, operated by the Indian Space Research Organization. It is located in Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram which is near the southern tip of India, very close to earth's magnetic equator...
(TERLS), on the west coast of India, to launch sounding rockets. The first test launch of the complete SLV-3 rocket occurred in August 1979 but it was only partially successful following a malfunction in the second stage guidance system. SHAR facilities worked satisfactorily during the SLV-3 preparation and launch. On 18 July 1980 the SLV-3 successfully launched India's third satellite. Out of the four SLV launches from SHAR, two were successful.
Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV)
The ASLVASLV
Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle , was a 5-stage solid propellant rocket developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation to place 150 kg satellites into LEO. This project was started by India during the early 1980s to develop technologies needed for a payload to be placed into a...
orbital launcher was integrated vertically, beginning with motor and subassembly preparations in the Vehicle Integration Building (VIB) and completed on the pad within the 40 m tall Mobile Service Structure. The first ASLV launch from SHAR took place in 1987 and resulted in a failure. Eventually, out the four ASLV launches from 1987–94, only one was successful.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
The PSLV launch complex was commissioned during 1990. It has a 3,000 tonne, 76.5 m high Mobile Service Tower (MST) which provides the SP-3 payload clean room. The solid propellant motors for the PSLV are processed by SHAR, which also carries out launch operations. The first launch of the PSLV took place on 20 September 1993. Since then out of 15 launches, PSLV has a recorded 14 successes. PSLV is launched both from the first and the second launch pad.Facilities
The Centre has two operational orbital launch pads. SHAR is ISRO's satellite launching base and additionally provides launch facilities for the full range of Rohini sounding rocketsRohini sounding rocket series
Rohini series is a series of sounding rockets developed by ISRO for meteorological and atmospheric study purposes. The rockets in this series are named RH an abbreviation of rohini, followed by a numeral indicating its diameter...
. The Vehicle Assembly, Static Test and Evaluation Complex (VAST, previously STEX) and the Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant (SPROB) are located at SHAR for casting and testing solid motors. The site also has a Telemetry Tracking & Control centre, the Management Service Group and Sriharikota Common Facilities. The PSLV launch complex was commissioned in 1990. It has a 3,000 tonne, 76.5 m high Mobile Service Tower (MST) which provides the SP-3 payload clean room.
The solid propellant space booster plant(SPROB) processes large size propellant grains for the satellite launch vehicles. The Static Test & Evaluation Complex (STEX) tests and qualifies different types of solid motor for launch vehicles. The closed center at SHAR houses computers and data processing, closed circuit television, real-time tracking systems and meteorological observation equipment. It is linked to three radars located at Sriharikota and the five stations of ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking & Command Network (ISTRAC
Indian Space Research Organisation Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network
The Indian Space Research Organization , over the years, established a comprehensive network of ground stations to provide Telemetry, Tracking and Command support to satellite and launch vehicle missions...
).
The propellant production plant produces composite solid propellant for rocket motors of ISRO using ammonium perchlorate (oxidiser), fine aluminium powder (fuel) and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (binder). The solid motors processed here include those for the first stage booster motor of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) — a five segmented motor of 2.8 m diameter and 22 m length, weighing 160 tons with a thrust level of 450 tons.
Rocket motors and their subsystems have to be rigorously tested and evaluated on ground before they are declared flight worthy. The facilities at SDSC SHAR are used for testing solid rocket motors, both at ambient conditions and simulated high altitude conditions. Besides these, there are facilities for conducting Vibration, Shock, Constant Acceleration and Thermal/humidity tests.
SDSC SHAR has infrastructure for launching satellites into low earth orbit, polar orbit and geo-stationary transfer orbit. The launch complexes provide support for vehicle assembly, fuelling, checkout and launch operations. The Centre also has facilities for launching sounding rockets for atmospheric studies. The mobile service tower, launch pad, preparation facilities for different launch stages & spacecraft, storage, transfer and servicing facilities for liquid propellants, etc., are the principal parts of the PSLV/GSLV launch complex.
For supporting the GSLV Mk III
GSLV III
The GSLV-III or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle mark III is a launch vehicle currently under development by the Indian Space Research Organization...
programme additional facilities are being set up at SDSC. A new plant is being set up to process heavier class boosters with 200 tonnes of Solid propellant. The static test complex is being augmented for qualifying the S-200 booster. Other new facilities include a Solid Stage Assembly Building, Satellite Preparation and Filling Facility and Hardware Storage buildings. The existing liquid propellant and cryogenic propellant storage and filling systems, Propellant Servicing Facilities will also be augmented. The range instrumentation system will be enhanced further.
Old Launch Pad (Launch Pad-1)
This was the first launch pad built at SHAR during the late 1960s. It became operational in 1971 and since then numerous launches have taken place. It is operational even today and is used for PSLV launches.Second Launch Pad (SLP)
The SLP at SHAR is a state-of-the-art launch complex. SLP is configured as a universal launch pad capable of accommodating all the launch vehicles of ISRO including the advanced launch vehicles to be built in the next decade and beyond. It became operational in 2005.Third Launch Pad
The Third Launch Pad is specifically being built for manned missions at a cost of Rs 600 crores. It is scheduled to be completed by 2012 and the first test flight would take place in 2013.Notable Launches from SHAR
- 1979: First experimental launch of SLV-3 with Rohini satellite on board failed.
- 1980: Second experimental launch of SLVSatellite Launch VehicleThe Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle or SLV was a project started in the early 1970s by Indian Space Research Organisation to develop the technology needed to launch satellites. The project was headed by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. SLV was intended to reach a height of 400 km and carry a payload of...
-3 Rohini satellite successfully placed in orbit. - 1983: Second launch of SLV-3. RS-D2 placed in orbit.
- 1987: ASLVASLVAugmented Satellite Launch Vehicle , was a 5-stage solid propellant rocket developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation to place 150 kg satellites into LEO. This project was started by India during the early 1980s to develop technologies needed for a payload to be placed into a...
with SROSS-1 satellite on board launched. - 1992: Third developmental launch of ASLV with SROCC-C on board (May). Satellite placed in orbit. First indigenously built satellite
- 1993: First developmental launch of PSLV with IRSIndian Remote Sensing satelliteIndian Remote Sensing satellites are a series of Earth Observation satellites, built, launched and maintained by Indian Space Research Organisation...
-1E on board fails. - 1994: Fourth developmental launch of ASLV successful (May). Second developmental launch of Polar Satellite Launch VehiclePolar Satellite Launch VehicleThe Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation . It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that...
(PSLV) with IRSIndian Remote Sensing satelliteIndian Remote Sensing satellites are a series of Earth Observation satellites, built, launched and maintained by Indian Space Research Organisation...
-P2 successfully (October). - 1995: Third operational IRSIndian Remote Sensing satelliteIndian Remote Sensing satellites are a series of Earth Observation satellites, built, launched and maintained by Indian Space Research Organisation...
(IRS) launched. - 1996: Third developmental launch of PSLV with IRSIndian Remote Sensing satelliteIndian Remote Sensing satellites are a series of Earth Observation satellites, built, launched and maintained by Indian Space Research Organisation...
-P3 successful (March). - 1997: First operational launch of PSLV with IRSIndian Remote Sensing satelliteIndian Remote Sensing satellites are a series of Earth Observation satellites, built, launched and maintained by Indian Space Research Organisation...
-1D successful (September). - 1999: IRS-P4 (OCEANSAT), launched by Polar Satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C2) along with KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n KITSAT-3 and GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
DLR-TUBSAT from Sriharikota (26 May 1999). - 2001: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch VehicleGeosynchronous Satellite Launch VehicleThe Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
-D1 (GSLV-D1), the first developmental launch of GSLV with GSATGSATThe GSAT satellites are India's indigenously developed technologies of satellite communications, like digital audio, data and video broadcasting. GSAT has been designed with two S-band and 3 C-band transponders .-GSAT-4:GSAT-4, also known as HealthSat was an experimental satellite launched on 15th...
-1 onboard partially successful. - 2002: PSLV-C4 launches MetSat-1, later renamed Kalpana-1Kalpana-1Kalpana-1 is the first dedicated meteorological satellite launched by Indian Space Research Organisation using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 2002-09-12. This was the first satellite launched by the PSLV into the Geostationary orbit....
(September). - 2003: GSLVGeosynchronous Satellite Launch VehicleThe Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
-D2, the second developmental launch of GSLV with GSATGSATThe GSAT satellites are India's indigenously developed technologies of satellite communications, like digital audio, data and video broadcasting. GSAT has been designed with two S-band and 3 C-band transponders .-GSAT-4:GSAT-4, also known as HealthSat was an experimental satellite launched on 15th...
-2 successful (May). - 2004: First operational flight of GSLVGeosynchronous Satellite Launch VehicleThe Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
(F01) successfully launches EDUSATEDUSATEDUSAT or GSAT-3 is a communications satellite which was launched on 20 September 2004 by the Indian Space Research Organisation. EDUSAT is the first Indian satellite built exclusively to serve the educational sector...
(September). - 2005: Launch of CARTOSAT and HAMSATHAMSATHAMSAT also known as HAMSAT INDIA and VU2SAT is a microsatellite weighing , providing amateur radio communications services for Indian and international amateur radio operators. This satellite carries the in-orbit designation of VO-52, and is an OSCAR series satellite.It was launched by PSLV-C6 on...
by PSLV-C6 from the second launch pad (Universal Launch Pad) (May). - 2006: Second operational flight of GSLVGeosynchronous Satellite Launch VehicleThe Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
(F02) unsuccessful July 10, 2006. GSLV-F02 was carrying INSAT-4C. - 2007: Successful launch of CARTOSAT-2CARTOSAT-2Cartosat-2 is an Earth observation satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit. The satellite was built, launched and maintained by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Weighing around 680 kg at launch, its applications will mainly be towards cartography in India...
, SRE-1Space Capsule Recovery ExperimentThe Space Capsule Recovery Experiment is an Indian experimental spacecraft which was launched at 03:53 GMT on January 10, 2007 from Sriharikota by the Indian Space Research Organization . The launch was conducted using the PSLV C7 rocket, along with three other satellites...
, LAPAN-TUBSATNational Institute of Aeronautics and SpaceNational Institute of Aeronautics and Space is the Indonesian government space agency. It was established on November 27, 1964 by former Indonesian president Suharto after one year's existence of an informal space agency organization. LAPAN is responsible for long-term civilian and military...
and PEHUENSAT-1 on PSLV C7 on January 10, 2007. - 2007: SRE-1Space Capsule Recovery ExperimentThe Space Capsule Recovery Experiment is an Indian experimental spacecraft which was launched at 03:53 GMT on January 10, 2007 from Sriharikota by the Indian Space Research Organization . The launch was conducted using the PSLV C7 rocket, along with three other satellites...
splashed down in the Bay of BengalBay of BengalThe Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
on January 22, 2007 and was successfully recovered by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy, making IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
one of the few countries to have re-entry technology. - 2007: PSLV-C8 successfully places an Italian satellite, AGILEAGILE (spacecraft)AGILE is an X-ray and Gamma ray astronomical satellite of the Italian Space Agency .ASI has made contact with AGILE: signals from it have been acquired by the ground station at the Broglio Space Centre near Malindi, Kenya and it has been placed in a sun-pointing mode....
into its orbit on April 23. - 2 September 2007 — GSLVGeosynchronous Satellite Launch VehicleThe Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
-F04 launched with INSAT 4CR - 21 January 2008 — PSLV-C10 launches TecSARTecSARTecSAR, also known as TechSAR, Polaris and Ofek-8, is an Israeli reconnaissance satellite, equipped with synthetic aperture radar developed by Elta Systems...
. - 28 April 2008 — PSLV-C-9 launches 10 Satellites successfully (2 Indian + 8 foreign)
- 22 October 2008 — Chandrayaan-1 (Moon Vehicle) spacecraft launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota by PSLV-XL (PSLV-C11) in a highly elliptical initial orbit (IO) with perigee (nearest point to the Earth) of about 257 km and an apogee (farthest point from the Earth) of about 22,858 km.