Sheekha Bureau
Sriharikota, Mar. 12: In what can be described as a proud and memorable moment for journalists from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a group of media on 11 March 2026 received a rare opportunity to visit the prestigious Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, India’s most prestigious space launch facility operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The visit was organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as part of a media outreach initiative covering various Central Government institutions in southern India. The delegation from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is presently touring important research and technological establishments in the region.
For many journalists, the visit proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as access to the highly secured Sriharikota space centre is extremely limited and even journalists from across the country rarely get the opportunity to explore the facility in such detail.
During the visit, the media team was taken to several key areas of the space centre, including Launch Pad–1, Launch Pad–2 and the mission control facilities. Scientists and officials from ISRO briefed the visiting journalists about the functioning of the launch complex, explaining how rockets are prepared, assembled and launched into space.
The delegation was also apprised about to India’s major launch vehicles, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the GSLV Mk III, which play a crucial role in India’s space missions.
The journalists were given insights into how different teams of scientists, engineers and technical experts work together during a launch mission. The mission control centre, where crucial decisions are taken during a launch, was also shown to the delegation, offering them a glimpse of the high-level coordination involved in space missions.
Speaking about the experience, Ms. Rashmi, Editor of The Wave Andaman, described the visit as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for the media team. She praised the dedication, discipline and sense of patriotism displayed by the scientists and staff working at the facility.
She also suggested that students from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands should be given similar opportunities in the future so that they can witness such technological achievements firsthand and draw inspiration for their careers.
Mr. Vijay Roy, the Chief Editor of The Echo of India expressed gratitude to Mr. T. Vijay, Indian Information Service (IIS) officer and Media & Communication Officer of PIB, for arranging the exposure tour. He said the visit helped all visiting journalists better understand the functioning of India’s space programme and the immense efforts involved behind every satellite launch.
Mr. K Ganeshan, Chief Editor of Andaman Express emphasized that such exposure tours are extremely valuable for media professionals from remote regions like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as they help broaden their perspective and enable them to share important national developments with people back home.
The visit was widely described by the participating journalists as an enriching and motivating experience that highlighted India’s technological capabilities and the dedication of the country’s scientific community.
