The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nadu, traditionally recognized for its atomic power generation capabilities, is now set to establish itself as a prominent space hub in India. This development is attributed to the establishment of facilities like rocket and satellite manufacturing units, a rocket port, a space propellant park, a Defense corridor, and an aerospace park.
During his visit to Tuticorin District, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will remotely inaugurate India’s second rocket port at Kulasekarapattinam on February 28, as per a senior official from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This new port will primarily launch small rockets carrying small satellites.
ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), capable of carrying 500 kg, will benefit from this additional launch site. The location also aims to support launches for private rocket manufacturers. Unlike India’s single launch site at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, many leading space nations maintain multiple launch sites.
The east coast location near the Equator makes Tuticorin District an ideal spot for this endeavor. This location is especially advantageous for launching Earth observation or remote sensing satellites southward, a task that currently requires additional fuel due to the need to navigate around Sri Lanka from Sriharikota.
M Annadurai, former Director of ISRO, highlighted Tamil Nadu’s potential to become a global space sector hub, particularly with the trend of launching small satellite constellations and the entry of private players in the sector. ISRO’s initiatives with UNOOSA to demonstrate its space capabilities to non-space faring nations and training in small satellite construction could lead to these countries launching their first satellites with India.
The location’s geographical benefits, including its proximity to the Equator and position on the east coast, make Kulasekarapattinam an ideal site for launching satellites into polar orbit. This development aligns with the Tamil Nadu Government’s plans to establish a 2,000-acre Space Industrial and Propellant Park near Tuticorin.
In addition to these space endeavors, the Prime Minister will inaugurate ISRO’s Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test facility at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri during his visit to Kerala. This facility will enable the development of semi-cryogenic engines, enhancing ISRO’s current rockets’ payload capacity.
Tamil Nadu’s role in India’s atomic power sector is also notable, with its current generation capacity of 2,440 MW. This includes the Kudankulam and Kalpakkam power plants, with additional capacity under development. The recent inauguration of the Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant (DFRP) in Kalpakkam by the Prime Minister and the planned Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Facility (FRFCF), slated for completion by December 2027, further emphasize the state’s significance in both the atomic and space sectors.