India is moving ahead with plans to operationalise a new launch facility at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu. It is expected to be commissioned during the 2026-27 financial year, according to information shared in the Lok Sabha by Jitendra Singh.
The new facility, officially called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) Launch Complex, is being developed as the country's second space launch site.
The Kulasekarapattinam complex will primarily handle launches of SSLV missions to Sun-synchronous Polar Orbit, a trajectory widely used for Earth observation satellites.
Officials say the location offers advantages for such missions, including reduced fuel requirements due to its proximity to the equator compared with some existing launch facilities.
At present, India conducts launches from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh, where two launch pads are operational.
The First Launch Pad supports missions of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SSLV, while the Second Launch Pad handles launches of PSLV, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3).
Alongside the new Tamil Nadu facility, the government has also approved the construction of a Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota. The new pad is being designed to support India's Next Generation Launch Vehicle programme and is targeted to be ready by 2029-30.
Looking ahead, the first developmental flight of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle is planned between 2031 and 2032. Meanwhile, the Kulasekarapattinam complex is expected to begin hosting SSLV launches by 2027-28 once commissioning is completed.
Singh also noted that the Department of Space currently has no proposal to establish additional launch sites elsewhere in the country.
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