Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Space research center in Sriharikota, India
Satish Dhawan Space Centre is a spaceport on an island off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, housing several launch platforms and assembly buildings for rockets and satellites. The facility stretches along the Bay of Bengal and serves as the departure point for launches that send spacecraft into orbit from Indian territory.
The facility opened in 1971 as a testing ground for research rockets and was later renamed in honor of a former chairman of the Indian space organization. From its early launches, the site grew into a departure point for missions that place satellites in orbit and send probes to other planets.
The facility represents India's advancement in space exploration, serving as the primary launch site for national satellites and interplanetary missions.
The island of Sriharikota sits off the coast north of Chennai and is connected to the mainland by a single bridge. Visits are not open to the public, but launches can sometimes be seen and heard from nearby coastal towns across the water.
The facility recently added a launch pad operated by a private company for commercial rocket flights. This makes the site one of the few spaceports in the world where government and private operators work side by side.
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