Satish Dhawan Space CentreActive

India's sole orbital launch facility, responsible for missions to the Moon and Mars. The record PSLV-C37 launch in 2017 deployed 104 satellites in a single flight. Home to the Chandrayaan lunar programme.

13.7199°N
Latitude
80.2304°E
Longitude
10 m
Elevation
1980
First orbital

Site history

Owner / operator: ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Founded: 1969 First orbital launch: 1980
Total orbital launches: ~110+ Annual launch rate: ~10/year Current vehicles: PSLV, GSLV, LVM3
India's sole orbital launch facility, responsible for missions to the Moon and Mars. The record PSLV-C37 launch in 2017 deployed 104 satellites in a single flight. Home to the Chandrayaan lunar programme.

Orbital mechanics from 13.7199°N

A launch site's latitude determines which orbits are achievable and at what fuel cost. Sriharikota at 13.7199°N sets the following constraints:

Min inclination (due east)
13.7°
A rocket launched due east enters an orbit inclined at exactly the site's latitude. Going lower requires a fuel-expensive plane change.
ISS reachable?
Yes — 51.6°
A 37.9° dog-leg manoeuvre is needed from this latitude to reach the ISS's 51.6° orbit.
Sun-sync (SSO)
Achievable
Sun-synchronous orbits (~97–98°) require a slight retrograde tilt. A small retrograde azimuth is needed to reach the required ~97° inclination.
GTO efficiency
Excellent
Geostationary transfer orbit requires a low inclination. At 13.7199°N, only a 13.7° plane change is needed — a major payload mass advantage.

Satellite train visibility from Sriharikota

From 13.7199°N, Sriharikota can reach 5 Starlink inclination shells: 28.5° (equatorial belt), 43°, 53°, 70°, 97.6° SSO (polar).

Trains launched to higher inclinations are visible from more of the world. A 97° SSO train from Sriharikota would be visible at virtually every latitude; a 53° train is visible from latitudes up to ±34° (primarily) — mostly tropical and subtropical regions. In the hours after launch — before satellites raise their orbits — a tight train of 20–60 bright dots crosses the sky roughly every 90 minutes. Use OrbitalNodes' Starlink tracker for exact train pass times.

Orbital coverage — which latitudes can satellites from Sriharikota fly over
90°S60°S30°SEquator30°N60°N90°N ISS 51.6° Sriharikota Min inclination (13.7°) ISS band (±51.6°)

Sriharikota — Launch Site FAQ

Where is Sriharikota and who operates it?

Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located at 13.7199°N, 80.2304°E in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is owned and operated by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). The site has conducted approximately 110 orbital launches since its first in 1980.

What rockets launch from Sriharikota?

Current vehicles operating from Satish Dhawan Space Centre include PSLV, GSLV, LVM3. Primary customers are ISRO, NewSpace India Limited, launching Earth observation, navigation, commercial satellites, Chandrayaan/Mangalyaan.

What orbits can Sriharikota reach?

At 13.7199°N, Sriharikota's minimum achievable inclination is 13.7° (due-east launch). The ISS at 51.6° is reachable with a dogleg manoeuvre. The near-equatorial location gives an excellent GTO mass advantage. The site can reach orbits between roughly 14° and 98° inclination.

Can I watch launches from Sriharikota?

Yes — Satish Dhawan Space Centre hosts a moderate cadence of approximately 10 orbital launches per year. Check the operator's website for public viewing arrangements and launch windows.

What satellites can I see that were launched from Sriharikota?

Satellites regularly launched from Sriharikota include Earth observation, navigation, commercial satellites, Chandrayaan/Mangalyaan. The ISS was supplied or crew-launched from sites at similar latitudes. Use OrbitalNodes to track any visible satellite in real time.

Why was Sriharikota built at this latitude?

Sriharikota at 13.7199°N was positioned to access the full range of low-Earth orbits including the ISS corridor. The site has been operational since 1980.

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