ISRO Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport to be Ready by 2026

New milestone for Indian space sector

ISRO Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport to be Ready by 2026: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that the Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu will be operational by December 2026. This will be India’s second launch site after the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The spaceport will primarily handle Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs), aiming at 20–25 launches annually.

Static GK fact: The Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota was established in 1971 and serves as India’s primary spaceport.

Features of the new launch complex

The facility covers 2,300 acres in the coastal village of Kulasekarapattinam. Its foundation stone was laid in February 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing. Once completed, it will decentralize launch operations and reduce the load on Sriharikota.

Static GK Tip: Tamil Nadu has earlier contributed to India’s nuclear and space projects through Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant and now through this spaceport.

Need for a second launch site

Specialization in SSLVs

SSLVs can carry payloads up to 500 kg to a 400 km orbit. They are cost-efficient, faster to assemble, and suitable for commercial, academic, and defence satellites. A dedicated SSLV facility will allow on-demand launches with greater frequency.

Geographical advantage

Kulasekarapattinam’s coastal location near the equator enables southward launches over the ocean, avoiding populated areas. This makes it ideal for polar and sun-synchronous orbits, crucial for Earth observation satellites.

Static GK fact: Sun-synchronous orbits allow satellites to pass over the same region at the same local solar time, ensuring consistent lighting conditions for imaging.

Economic and scientific boost

The project is expected to generate skilled jobs, attract aerospace investments, and encourage STEM education in southern Tamil Nadu. It will also strengthen India’s role in the global commercial satellite market.

Importance for India’s space capacity

The new spaceport will:

• Support India’s growing commercial space economy
• Reduce dependence on a single launch site
• Increase overall launch frequency
• Enhance India’s competitiveness in the global space industry

Static GK fact: ISRO was founded in 1969 under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, regarded as the father of India’s space program.

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