Overview
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) is ISRO's primary launch facility, located on Sriharikota — a barrier island in Andhra Pradesh on India's southeastern coast. Named after former ISRO chairman Satish Dhawan, the centre has been India's only orbital launch site since 1971, supporting all PSLV, GSLV and LVM3 missions, including the historic Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing.
Facility Details
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 13.72°N, 80.23°E |
| Operator | ISRO |
| Established / First Launch | 1971 |
| Active Vehicles | PSLV, GSLV Mk II, LVM3 (GSLV Mk III), SSLV |
| Launch Pads | First Launch Pad (FLP), Second Launch Pad (SLP), Third Launch Pad (under construction) |
| Orbital Access | LEO, SSO, GTO, lunar and interplanetary |
| Inclination Range | ~13°–99° |
Key Missions
Every Indian orbital launch flies from Sriharikota, including Chandrayaan-1 (2008, discovered lunar water ice), Mars Orbiter Mission (2013, India's first interplanetary mission), Chandrayaan-3 (2023, south pole lunar landing), and the upcoming Gaganyaan crewed flights.
Third Launch Pad
ISRO is constructing a third launch pad at SDSC to support increased launch cadence. As India's commercial space sector grows — with private launch companies like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos emerging — additional pad capacity will be essential. The third pad may also support the next generation of Indian launch vehicles.