Nellore: The upcoming Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport in Tamil Nadu would strengthen India’s Space infrastructure that keeps expanding.
The new facility is not intended to replace the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, but to complement its operations.
The Central government approved the project in 2023 as a dedicated launch facility primarily for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
It would also support launch activities by non-governmental entities in line with the Indian Space Policy 2023.
The site’s main advantage is its geographical location.
According to the Department of Space, launches from Sriharikota to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits (SSPO) require rockets to manoeuvre to prevent spent stages from falling over landmasses.
This trajectory constraint reduces payload capacity.
Kulasekarapattinam offers a more direct southward launch path over the sea, eliminating the need for such manoeuvres and improving payload efficiency.
In a written reply to Parliament on August 20, 2025, the department of space stated that the SSLV would have a payload capacity of approximately 300kg to the sun-synchronous polar orbit when launched from Kulasekarapattinam.
The payload capacity from Sriharikota would be inadequate for carrying a useful payload to this orbit because of the trajectory constraints.
The project has an approved outlay of ₹985.96 crore.
According to official disclosures, site development works have been completed, while construction of technical facilities and fabrication of equipment and structures are under way.
Land acquisition has been completed except for the land required to reroute the East Coast Road.
Isro reported in August 2025 that construction was progressing on 32 of the 33 major facilities.
While commissioning was initially targeted for the 2026-27 financial year, a subsequent parliamentary disclosure in March 2026 indicated that SSLV launches from Kulasekarapattinam were expected to begin in the 2027-28 financial year.
According to Isro sources, the new spaceport is expected to strengthen India’s small-satellite launch capabilities, meet growing domestic and international demand for launches and provide additional opportunities for private-sector players under the country’s evolving space policy.
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