India’s second spaceport is under construction at Kulasekarapattinam, Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu, and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Once operational, it will enable up to 25 satellite launches per year, primarily using Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).
Key Highlights
- Location: Kulasekarapattinam, Tiruchendur taluk, Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu.
- Area: 2,233 acres.
- Operational timeline: By December 2026.
- Launch frequency: Around 25 launches annually.
- Primary vehicle: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) – capable of carrying 500 kg payloads to 400 km altitude.
- Complement to: India’s first and primary spaceport at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (Satish Dhawan Space Centre).
Why a Second Launch Complex?
Specialisation in SSLVs
SSLVs are:
- Cost-effective.
- Faster to assemble.
- Suited for on-demand launches of small satellites.
- Ideal for commercial, academic, and defence applications.
Unlike PSLVs & GSLVs (launched from Sriharikota) which carry heavy payloads for deep space missions, SSLVs will focus on small satellite deployment.
Geographical Advantage
Being a coastal site near the equator, Kulasekarapattinam allows:
- Straight southward launches into polar & sun-synchronous orbits without flying over populated areas.
- Efficient Earth observation missions with consistent solar lighting conditions for imaging.
Economic & Scientific Boost
Expected benefits include:
- Creation of skilled jobs in aerospace and engineering.
- Attraction of domestic & foreign investments in space sector.
- Promotion of STEM education & regional R&D ecosystem.
- Boost to commercial space economy and India’s global competitiveness.
Why Kulasekarapattinam?
- Ideal location for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).
- Provides direct launch trajectory towards the south (polar orbits) without flying over populated areas – safer + fuel efficient.
- Reduces turn-around time & costs for polar orbit launches (important for PSLV & SSLV missions).
Significance for India
- Diversification: Reduces reliance on Sriharikota.
- Increased launch capacity: Enhances India’s ability to meet the growing global demand for small satellite launches.
- Commercial space economy: Strengthens India’s role in the global space market, especially Earth observation & communication satellites.
- Regional development: Provides Tamil Nadu a major role in national space projects, adding to its contribution through Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant.
Background
- ISRO establishment: 1969 by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (Father of India’s space programme).
- First spaceport: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh – houses PSLV & GSLV launch pads.
- Recent SSLV developments: First SSLV-D2 mission successfully launched satellites into orbit in 2023.
Key Facts
- First Indian Satellite: Aryabhata (1975).
- First Indian Astronaut: Rakesh Sharma (1984, Soyuz T-11 mission).
- ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- First Spaceport (Sriharikota): Handles GSLV & PSLV launches.
- Other Indian Space Developments (2025):
- Gaganyaan Mission (human spaceflight) targeted by 2025–26.
- Focus on private sector participation through IN-SPACe and NSIL.
- Key ISRO Centres:
- VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram – Vehicle development.
- URSC, Bengaluru – Satellite building.
- SDSC, Sriharikota – Launch operations.
- ISTRAC, Bengaluru – Satellite tracking & control.