Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR: the Spaceport of India at Sriharikota
Background
SDSC SHAR at Sriharikota is called the Spaceport of India and provides launch base infrastructure for the Indian space programme.
Its facilities cover solid propellant processing, static testing of solid motors, launch vehicle integration, launch operations and range operations, including telemetry, tracking and command and a mission control centre.
Two launch pads host the launches of PSLV and GSLV, and a separate pad serves sounding rockets.
Its mandate has three parts: producing solid propellant boosters for ISRO launch vehicles, providing infrastructure to qualify subsystems and solid rocket motors, and providing launch base infrastructure for satellites and launch vehicles.
In plain words
SHAR Sriharikota High Altitude Range — The launch range at Sriharikota that gives SDSC SHAR its name.
Sounding rocket Sounding rocket — A small research rocket that makes brief flights into the upper atmosphere.