and commissioned by MECON Limited, a Government of Indian Enterprise, located at Ranchi (Jharkhand, India) during the period March 1999 to December 2003. It cost about at that time. The second launch pad with associated facilities was built in 2005. However it became operational on 5 May 2005 with the launching of PSLV-C6. MECON's sub-contractors for this project including Inox India, HEC, Tata Growth, Goderej Boyce, Simplex, Nagarjuna Construction, Steelage, etc. The other Launch Pad being the First Launch Pad. It is used by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles, GSLV Mark III and is intended for India's first crewed space mission. The first launch from the pad occurred on 5 May 2005, and was of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carrying the CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT satellites. India's 1st Moon Mission, Chandrayan-I was launched from this launch pad on 22 October 2008. Its follow-up mission Chandrayaan-2 was also launched from this launch pad on 22 July 2019. In November 2019, ISRO released tenders for augmentation of SLP for Gaganyaan project. Third Launch Pad A Third Launch Pad has been proposed in 2012 with estimated cost to be . This launch pad is intended to be used for future Indian rockets like the Unified Launch Vehicle and GSLV Mark III as well as the older ones like Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. The launch pad will be used for the India's future human space missions. One of the main reasons of building this launch pad is that it will increase the frequency of orbital launches by ISRO. In 2018, it was reported that the launch of India's first crewed orbital spacecraft "Gaganyaan" is scheduled to be launch from the third launch pad before 2022. However, in November 2019, ISRO released tenders for augmentation of Second Launch Pad for Gaganyaan project. See also References External links Satish Dhawan Space Centre Official Website Chandrayaan-1 Sriharikota on Encyclopedia Astronautica About Shar centre Federation of American Scientists: Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR centre layout Spaceport of India - SHAR center of ISRO Spaceports Rocket launch sites in India Rocket launch sites Space programme of India 1971 establishments in Andhra Pradesh Indian Space Research Organisation facilities Buildings and structures in Tirupati district