In an effort to catch the opportunities in the space sector, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is determined to make it global and intends to set up space parks in two more places in the state, in addition to Sriharikota.
CM Chandrababu has already discussed this with Union Minister Jitender Singh. One park is being planned near Sriharikota, where the current space station is located, and another park in Lepakshi in Anantapur district. Keeping these in mind, former ISRO chief Dr. Somnath has been appointed as the government advisor.
The government will take steps in the space sector under his leadership to take up the manufacturing of key propellant logistics along with launch vehicles near Sriharikota. Space industries will be set up in partnership with the public and private sector at Lepakshi.
Although there is a rocket center in Sriharikota in Tirupati district, the equipment required for it is being brought from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and other states. It is taking a long time to bring it to Sriharikota from there. This is also delaying the launches. Keeping all this in mind, the government is trying to set up space industries in Andhra Pradesh itself.
This matter was discussed with the Union Minister and he also responded positively. The states of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka are at the forefront in formulating their own space policies. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (InSpace) has also focused on manufacturing launch vehicles, satellites and equipment there.
Gujarat has focused on satellites and payloads, while Tamil Nadu has focused on launch vehicles. Karnataka has already become the focal point for ISRO-related activities. Andhra Pradesh, which has the only space port in the country, has not yet received the recognition it deserves. That is why CM Chandrababu Naidu is taking it seriously and trying to take it forward with a new policy.
Already, Sri City has industries related to rocket launches like VRV (indigenous liquid hydrogen storage tank), Daniel India (builders of mobile launch pedestals), Rotolock (valves for solid fuel engines), THK India (linear motion guides used in Chandrayaan-3), Nova Air (liquid oxygen supply), Valmet Engineering (aerospace grade alloy metal processors), Siddhartha Logistics (sensitive ISRO payload logistics).
There is Andhra Sugars propellant unit in West Godavari district. It is known that they have been supplying rocket fuel (MMH, UDMH) to ISRO since time immemorial.