ISRO’S most ambitious mission to the moon, Chandrayaan 2, took off on July 22. With Chandrayaan 2, India will become the first country to land on the lunar south region. Chandrayaan 2  took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The space centre is a state-of-the-art technological structure and is India's primary spaceport. More than 50 launches have taken place from the Sriharikota Space Centre. 

SIGNIFICANCE OF SRIHARIKOTA IN ISRO'S JOURNEY

The SDSC has facilities for static testing of solid motors. It provides full system support for launch operations and launch vehicle integrations. It also has a mission control centre and command network which guide the overall operation of the mission. The launch infrastructure can be used for launches not just into low earth or polar orbits but also at geostationary transfer orbits. Here are a few other reasons why Sriharikota is the base for Isro's mission.

1) Close To Sea

Once a rocket ignites and takes off, there’s not much control over it. It can deviate from its set path and not follow the desired trajectory. However, a destruct command is given out in such situations. This command destroys or disintegrates the rocket and makes it fall into the sea. Without such provisions, a rocket can fall on land and cause massive destruction. Places near desserts or seas are chosen by spaceports to avoid any accidents. Surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and Pulicat lake, Sriharikota makes for an ideal launchpad. 

Also Read - Chandrayaan 2 LIVE Updates: Landing Expected Around 1:30 AM On 7 Sept

2) Close To The Equator

The location of the launch impacts its trajectory and the total cost of the mission a lot. If the launch is near the Equator, a lot of fuel can be saved. The equator falls towards the south in India. With the added benefit of a 7,500 km long coast-line, several places in the southern region of India could be used for setting up launch centres.

Also Read - Chandrayaan 2 LIVE Updates: Diplomat Abhay Kumar Pens 'Moon Anthem'

3) Geographically Stable 

The land on which a launchpad is built needs to be strong. The soil in Sriharikota is strong with hard rock below it. This gives the launchpad a strong platform to lift-off from. Few reports state that Sriharikota is the second-best located spaceport in the world, after the Kennedy Space Centre in the United States. 

The SDSC also has a lot of attractions for the common people. SDSC has a theme park which offers people to witness launches and display of various rockets. A launch view gallery and a space museum are also available for people to enjoy.

Also Read -  Chandrayaan-2 Completes Second Lunar De-orbiting, Inches Even Closer

Also Read - ISRO Future Missions: Aditya L-1 To Sun,Gaganyaan Space Station

Also Read - ISRO's Cartoon About Vikram Separating From Chandrayaan-2 Is Adorable