The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has received approval to build a new spaceport in Tamil Nadu. This spaceport aims to help private companies launch small rockets into space with reduced fuel consumption.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new spaceport situated on an island named Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu. It will be ISRO’s second spaceport after the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The new spaceport will focus on launching smaller rockets and is expected to be operational in about two years, according to ISRO chairman S Somanath.
With a launch of the two-stage sounding rocket Rohini (RH – 200) from Kulasekharapatnam, ISRO marked the beginning of its operations at the new spaceport on Wednesday evening.
The Kulasekharapatnam spaceport covers 2,350 acres and is strategically positioned to save fuel for small rocket launches by allowing rockets to launch directly south over the Indian Ocean. This eliminates the need to cross landmasses, unlike the existing launch site at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, which requires additional fuel for rockets to follow a curved path to avoid landmasses like Sri Lanka.
Image Credits: PIB India
The new spaceport is being developed with an investment of $119 million (986 crore Indian rupees) and is designed for 24 launches per year using a mobile launch structure.
India has been actively increasing its presence in space technology with around 190 space tech startups offering various solutions globally. ISRO is also working to strengthen India’s position in the global space industry by achieving milestones like landing a lunar spacecraft on the moon’s south pole and launching the Aditya-L1 spacecraft to observe the sun’s upper atmosphere. The recent selection of four astronaut-elects for the Gaganyaan mission in 2025 further demonstrates India’s commitment to space exploration.
India’s space policy and updated foreign direct investment regulations indicate the country’s efforts to encourage private participation and foreign investments in the space sector.
“We believe that India’s strategic investment in additional spaceports will enhance its launch service capabilities, foster international collaboration, and solidify its position as a global space power,” said A.K. Bhatt, director general of the Indian Space Association.
