Today we will learn about ISRO's new spaceport in Tamil Nadu before learning about spaceport we'll get a rough idea about orbits or there will be confusion. Orbital inclination is the angle measured with respect to the equator the rocket launches along this angle anywhere from 0 to 50/60/70 lets consider it equatorial for this article.
Credit Google Images
Then there are polar launches the orbits are between poles so around 89/90/91 we can say roughly but can be a lot more current launch site Sriharikota, we can see many inclinations are accessible but if we want to do a polar launch here then we have to go straight down but then Sri Lanka comes in between this is a big problem we cant fly our rockets above Sri Lanka so what ISRO does is that the rocket will fly from the side and then once it has passed it will again come to the left and continue. This is called a "dogleg manuevour" because of this the rocket has to spend extra fuel steering this means we can carry less weight so less payload capacity this is somewhat understandable on a PSLV or GSLV because they have a big payload capacity and some reduction is okay.
Credit Google Images
ISRO is developing a rocket called SSLV small satellite launch vehicle some people call it baby PSLV but that's why ISRO was searching for a new launch site there can be a launch site on the west coast maybe GOA. So you can come down or more towards 98 degrees SSPO ISRO finally choose Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district. there is a place called Kulasekharapatnam as you can see we are clear down south not a country to block us we have Antarctica at the end directly very cool location why so much attention to polar orbits there is a special orbit called SSPO. Sun/Solar Synchronous Polar Orbit the best thing about this is the satellite is always illuminated with light so it's a very big advantage always power and ground also lit that's why many small satellites prefer this orbit so the small are always powered son and many other advantages.
Credit Google Images
So the Thoothukudi district is very important there is a port as well so if ISRO wants to ship its rockets than they can ship multiple and store them at the launch site there is a also a small 1.3 km airport but no use for cargo the launch site will be developed for SSLV all the facilites will the PSLV /GSLV launch from here? Sivan sir has said specifically to launch the PSLV or GSLV just because there is a launchpad does not mean you'd launch anything. Rocket specific infrastructure will have to be developed, then we also need a vehicle assembly building to integrate them so its not a simple question. So no PSLV/GSLV in the near term as of now, land acquisition is almost complete plan to complete the site in 18 months so around 2 years may be the exact location we don't know yet we'll know soon once activities pick up at the site ISRO is also planning a mobile launcher for SSLV.
0 Comments