Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota

Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR or SDSC SHAR is the principal spaceport of India. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is the primary rocket-launching base of the Indian Space Research Organisation (famously known as “ISRO”) under the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India.

SDSC SHAR is a novel spaceport known for its extraordinary services providing a world-class infrastructure facility for a launch base. The spaceport formerly used to be known as SHAR (Sriharikota range). On 05 September 2002, SHAR was renamed to Satish Dhawan Space Centre in the fond memory of Prof Satish Dhawan, the former Chairman of ISRO. 

History of Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR

The genesis of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR or SDSC SHAR can be traced back to 1960 when Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai laid the founding stone of space research activities in India by envisioning India to be equal in all frontiers across the world. In his own words- “We must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society”. 

Being the founder of space activities in India, Dr Vikram A. Sarabhai is also known as the “Father of the Indian Space Programme”. Read here for Dr Vikram Sarabhai’s Education Journey.

Satish Dhawan Space Centre Director

The director of this principal spaceport of India is Shri A Rajarajan. With his expertise in Composites, Shri A Rajarajan is ever-focused on the Launch Complex infrastructure (to cater to the increasing demands of ISRO’r rocket launch missions) and on the fruition of Solid Motor Production. 

Shri A Rajarajan completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering in 1970. Soon after his graduation, Shri A Rajarajan joined the Fibre Reinforced Plastic Division of VSSC. He later served as the Deputy Director of various VSSC entities such as the Aero Space Ordnance Entity (ASOE), Structures Entity (STR), and Propulsion and Space Ordinance Entity (PSOE), to name a few.

Also Read: ISRO Future Missions

Satish Dhawan Space Centre Launches 

This esteemed ISRO rocket launch centre, i.e. SDSC SHAR is the primary spaceport of ISRO. The centre has launched various space vehicles since its inception. To summarise, the SDSC SHAR centre has completed 90 launch vehicle missions (including Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 and Chandrayaan-3 in 2023). The recent success of ISRO’s SDSC SHAR centre’s Chandrayaan-3 mission to land on the south pole of the moon has gained enormous attention and applause worldwide.

The SDSC SHAR centre has also completed 537 launches from the Sounding Rocket Complex along with three experimental missions.  

Also Read: Changes in Chandrayaan 3 post Chandrayaan 2

Facilities Available At the Satish Dhawan Space Centre

Satish Dhawan Space Centre provides a world-class launch base for the Indian Space Programme and nearly all ISRO rocket launches. This esteemed ISRO launch base has been established to meet the end-to-end requirements of national and international projects. This primary spaceport of India is equipped with Solid Motor Production and qualification units, Satellite Preparation facilities, Stage Preparation facilities, Integration facilities, range Operation Systems and many more.

 The centre houses the following listed facilities at its location:

1. Launch Facilities 
2. Solid Motor Production
3. Range Instrumentation Facilities
4. Spacecraft Preparation Facilities
5. Solid Motor Testing Facility

Also Read: Interesting Facts about Chandrayaan-3 

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