The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has begun construction of a new rocket launchpad at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu, near the southern tip of the country. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, along with senior officials, performed a ‘Bhoomi Puja’, a traditional pre-construction ritual, at the proposed site.

At present, India’s only spaceport is the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The upcoming Kulasekarapattinam facility, located about 650 kilometres south of Sriharikota, will serve as the country’s second spaceport.

A hub for small satellite launches

Speaking after the ceremony, Dr. Narayanan said the new spaceport, spread over 2,300 acres, is designed to handle launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) developed by ISRO, as well as rockets built by Indian private startups.

He noted that the new facility could support 20–25 launches every year. The SSLV, ISRO’s compact three-stage rocket, can carry up to 500 kilograms of payload to orbits about 400 km above Earth. This category also includes rockets being developed by emerging Indian space companies.

Earlier in March 2025, ISRO announced that the site was ready for the construction of the Upper Stage Assembly Facilities (UAF-I & UAF-II) and a Launch Service Building (LSB), infrastructure critical for SSLV preparation and launches.

Why is a second spaceport needed

Sriharikota is well-suited for launching heavier rockets eastward into equatorial orbits. However, launching smaller rockets like SSLV towards polar orbits poses a major challenge. From Sriharikota, rockets heading southwards risk flying over Sri Lanka, which is not permitted.

To avoid this, rockets must perform a turn manoeuvre mid-flight. While large rockets can manage this without losing much efficiency, smaller rockets like SSLV burn too much fuel in the process, reducing their payload capacity and cost-effectiveness.

Kulasekarapattinam’s southern coastal location solves this problem. Rockets launched from here can fly straight towards the South Pole without overflying another country, saving fuel and carrying more payload.

Boost for India’s space ecosystem

Smaller rockets are quicker to build, assemble, and launch, making them a key part of India’s growing space ambitions. Having a dedicated launch site for these missions will improve efficiency and cut costs.

The Tamil Nadu government is also setting up a Space Park near the new spaceport to encourage private industries and startups to participate in India’s space ecosystem. This is expected to create an integrated hub for satellite launches, rocket manufacturing, and space-related services in the region.

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