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Satellite Launch Pads All Over the World

  • Kennedy Space Centre, Florida-USA
  • Vanderberg Air Force Base, California-USA
  • Edward Air Force Base Station, California-USA
  • Wallops Island, Virginia-USA
  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida-USA
  • Kagoshima Space Centre, Tanegashima Island-Japan
  • Sriharikota Space Centre, India
  • Kourou French Guiana Space Centre-European Space Agency (ESA)
  • Woomera Spaceport-Australia
  • Alcântara Launch Centre-Brazil
  • Jiuquan Space Launch Centre (Shuang Cheng Tzu)-China
  • Xichang Space Launch Centre-China
  • Hammaguir, Algeria
  • Kourou, French Guiana-France
  • Palmachim Air Base in the Xledger Desert-Israel
  • Volgograd Station, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Svobodny Cosmodrome-Russia

Avatar

Satellite Launch Pads All Over the World | General Awareness for SSC CGL

AVATAR, or Aerobic Vehicle for Hypersonic Aerospace Transportation, was a conceptual project aimed at developing a single-stage reusable space plane with horizontal takeoff and landing capabilities. This initiative was a collaborative effort by India's DRDO, ISRO, and other research organizations.

Question for Satellite Launch Pads All Over the World
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Which country collaborated on the AVATAR project for developing a single-stage reusable space plane?
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GSLV-D5

On January 5, 2014, ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-D5 rocket, powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. With this launch, India joined the ranks of countries such as the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China in developing its own cryogenic engines.

Other Space-Related Developments

  • GEMINI: The Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation and Information (GEMINI) provides satellite-based advisory services to deep-sea fishermen. It was recently launched in 2019.
  • Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS): This new satellite series is designed for space-to-space tracking and communication of India’s space assets, aiming to reduce dependence on ground stations for satellite tracking.
  • UNISPACE Nanosatellite Assembly and Training Programme (UNNATI): Launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the first UN conference on outer space, this program focuses on nanosatellite development and offers opportunities for developing countries to enhance their capabilities in this field.
  • NISAR: The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is the first dual-band radar imaging satellite. It aims to provide detailed data on ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards like tsunamis and earthquakes.

Satellite Launch Pads All Over the World | General Awareness for SSC CGL

International Space Station (ISS)

The ISS is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit, involving contributions from 15 nations. Major contributors include NASA (USA), ROSCOSMOS (Russia), and the European Space Agency (ESA), who provide the majority of the funding for the station.
Satellite Launch Pads All Over the World | General Awareness for SSC CGL

Recent Developments in Satellite Launch Pads and Space Programs (2025)

Updated information on global satellite launch pads and space programs as of June 2025, tailored for UPSC preparation in Science and Technology and Current Affairs.

United States

  • Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida: Hosts Artemis IV preparations with mobile launcher 2 upgrades. SpaceX’s Starship production at Roberts Road supports lunar and Mars missions. Axiom Mission-4 launched to the ISS in June 2025 from Launch Complex 39A.
  • Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida: Supports ULA’s Vulcan Centaur for Project Kuiper and Blue Origin’s New Glenn for NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars in 2025. Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser began ISS resupply missions in 2025.
  • Vandenberg Space Force Base, California: Facilitates SpaceX Falcon 9 launches for SPHEREx, Sentinel-6B, and Starlink in 2025, alongside NRO missions in polar orbits.
  • Wallops Island, Virginia: Supports Rocket Lab’s HASTE mission and NASA CubeSat launches via the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in 2025.
  • Edwards Air Force Base, California: Not a satellite launch site; used for aeronautical testing, not orbital missions.

India

  • Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota: Launched LVM3-M5 for BlueBird Block 2 and NASA-ISRO NISAR in early 2025, enhancing Earth observation capabilities.
  • Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport, Tamil Nadu: Under development for SSLV launches, targeting small satellite missions, spanning 2,233 acres.
  • AVATAR Project: Remains developmental; focus shifted to ISRO’s RLV-TD for reusable launch technology.
  • GSLV and LVM3: LVM3 replaces GSLV for heavy payloads, supporting Gaganyaan and commercial missions in 2025.
  • Other Programs: GEMINI aids fishermen with navigation, IDRSS satellites are operational for space tracking, and UNNATI has trained developing nations in nanosatellite development.

Japan

  • Tanegashima Space Center: JAXA’s H3 rocket launched in June 2025, supporting lunar missions like SLIM.

Europe

  • Guiana Space Centre, Kourou: Ariane 6, operational since 2024, handles commercial and scientific launches in 2025, replacing Ariane 5.

China

  • Jiuquan and Xichang: Support satellite launches, but Wenchang leads with crewed missions and Long March 8/12 launches for G60 and SatNet constellations in 2025.

Russia

  • Baikonur, Plesetsk, Vostochny: Vostochny is Russia’s primary launch site in 2025. Baikonur’s role is reduced, Plesetsk focuses on military launches, and Svobodny is inactive.

Other Regions

  • Woomera, Australia: Limited to suborbital launches; Whalers Way is emerging for orbital missions.
  • Alcântara, Brazil: Plans underway for commercial launches by 2025, but not yet a major site.
  • Hammaguir, Algeria: Inactive since the 1960s; historical site only.
  • Palmachim, Israel: Supports Shavit rocket launches from the Negev Desert in 2025.

International Space Station (ISS)

  • 2025 Missions: Axiom Mission-4 and SpaceX Crew-11 launched in June 2025. Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser began ISS resupply. Expedition 73 continues research.
The document Satellite Launch Pads All Over the World | General Awareness for SSC CGL is a part of the SSC CGL Course General Awareness for SSC CGL.
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FAQs on Satellite Launch Pads All Over the World - General Awareness for SSC CGL

1. How many satellite launch pads are there all over the world?
Ans. There are several satellite launch pads located all over the world, including those in countries like the United States, Russia, India, China, and many others.
2. Which satellite launch vehicle is known as Avatar?
Ans. The Avatar satellite launch vehicle is also known as the GSLV-D5, which is used by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for launching satellites.
3. Which space station is mentioned in the article?
Ans. The article mentions the International Space Station (ISS), which is a habitable artificial satellite that orbits the Earth and serves as a space environment research laboratory.
4. What is the significance of having satellite launch pads all over the world?
Ans. Having satellite launch pads all over the world allows for increased accessibility to space, facilitates international collaboration in space exploration, and enables countries to independently launch their satellites into orbit.
5. Which organization is responsible for managing satellite launch pads worldwide?
Ans. Various space agencies and organizations, such as NASA, Roscosmos, ISRO, and CNSA, are responsible for managing satellite launch pads worldwide and conducting space missions.
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