New launch pad in Tamil Nadu to help Isro save fuel

CHENNAI: The geographic location of the country’s second spaceport to be set up at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu has a strategic advantage over launch pads in Sriharikota — small satellite launch vehicles (SSLV) can fly straight to the south pole without burning fuel to swerve around Sri Lanka on the way.
Isro chairman K Sivan, at a video conference on Saturday, said during polar missions, big launch vehicles follow a trajectory where they fly in the southeast direction after lift-off from Sriharikota to avoid flying over Sri Lanka, protecting the landmass from rocket debris.The rocket then takes a sharp manoeuvre and proceeds towards the south pole. This dogleg manoeuvre that results in the rocket deviating from a straight flight path requires more fuel that eats into the rocket’s payload capacity. When launched from Kulasekarapattinam, this manoeuvre is not required thereby saving the rocket’s fuel as well as improving the payload capability.

"The payload loss in big vehicles is manageable. When it comes to small satellite launch vehicles, such manoeuvres won’t give any payload capability. We selected Kulasekarapattinam because it gives us the benefit of launching straight in the southward direction," Sivan said. "But when it comes to the launch pad, Kulasekarapattinam launch pad will be nothing different from Sriharikota," he said.
The new spaceport is expected to launch smaller satellites weighing 500kg into low-earth orbit less than 2,000km above the earth’s surface in a SSLV. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, spread over 145sqkm, has two launch pads for PSLV and GSLV flights.
On the ground at Kulasekarapattinam, Isro is one step closer to setting up the spaceport, as local officials expect the TN government to pass an order that will allow Isro officials to enter the property and start work. TN began the land acquisition process for the spaceport in December 2019. Around 2,300 acres of land has been earmarked across three villages — Mathavankurichi, Padukapathu and Pallakurichi for setting up the space station.
Tuticorin collector Sandeep Nanduri said they had sent a proposal to the state to pass an order allowing entry to the site. "We hope to get the government notification this month. We will then give permission to enter the land, and then the land value will be settled, following which, technically, Isro could do whatever they want in the land," he said. Officials said much of the land, for which the proposal has been sent, is at Mathavankurichi.
At the video conference, Sivan elaborated on the setting up of the new Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) approved by the Centre to encourage greater private participation in the country’s space activities. The chairman also said all projects including the Gaganyaan unmanned test flight are delayed to the Covid-induced lockdown.