Bengaluru, NFAPost: In a significant development, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath met with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday to discuss the progress of the space agency’s ambitious venture – the establishment of a second launchpad at Kulasekharapatnam in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. According to Somanath, the project is advancing well and is projected to be operational in approximately two years.
The Tamil Nadu government has already allocated a sprawling 2,000 acres of land in the coastal district for this pioneering project, which aims to facilitate the launch of private rockets. This move is poised to revolutionize rocket launches by substantially conserving fuel compared to conventional launches from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Expressing his gratitude, Somanath commended Chief Minister Stalin for his steadfast support to ISRO and for acknowledging the contributions of scientists involved in the Chandrayaan-3 program. As a token of appreciation, he presented the Chief Minister with a model of Chandrayaan-3.
In a social media post, Chief Minister Stalin lauded the Chairman and his team for their exemplary achievements, emphasizing Tamil Nadu’s pivotal role in ISRO’s success story.
Somanath revealed, “We are in the process of constructing our second launchpad at Kulasekharapatnam, and we have sought the Chief Minister’s valuable support. The government has already granted 2,000 acres of land, and we are currently navigating through various clearance procedures.”
Currently, necessary approvals are being pursued for critical aspects such as connectivity, power, and construction activities. Somanath also sought the state government’s cooperation in ensuring the timely completion of this groundbreaking project within the stipulated two-year timeline.
One of the key advantages of Kulasekharapatnam, as outlined by Somanath, is its strategic location for launching small rockets. This location offers distinct advantages over Sriharikota, as it not only conserves payload but also circumvents flying over the island mass of Sri Lanka.
This initiative comes on the heels of ISRO’s inauguration of a private launchpad and mission control centre within the ISRO campus at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota in November 2022 – a milestone in India’s space exploration endeavours.
With this bold step towards a new launchpad, ISRO is poised to redefine the trajectory of space exploration, solidifying India’s position as a global frontrunner in space technology and innovation. As the project advances, all eyes will be on Kulasekharapatnam, eagerly awaiting the dawn of a new era in rocket launches.
