Satish Dhawan Space Centre
ActiveNo launches are currently scheduled from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in the published manifest, which was last confirmed on 9 August 2026. Dates may have moved since.
Satish Dhawan Space Centre is 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.
Site history
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:
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.
Sriharikota: India's spaceport
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre launched Chandrayaan to the Moon and the Mangalyaan probe to Mars aboard India's dependable PSLV, alongside the heavier GSLV and LVM3 rockets.
It's a barrier-island site on India's east coast, firing prograde over the Bay of Bengal, and its low latitude (around 13.7°N) gives an efficient boost for eastward orbital launches.
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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