India's new spaceport to launch 25 missions annually by 2027

ndia's space agency announced Tuesday that its second launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu will be completed by December 2026, marking a major expansion in the country's space launch capabilities. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan made the announcement following a foundation ceremony for launch pad construction at the site, confirming plans to conduct approximately 25 launches annually from the new facility.

The ceremony, described as a "Bhoomi Puja," took place at the coastal village in Thoothukudi district, where construction activities are now in full swing across 2,300 acres of land. According to the Economic Times, Narayanan told reporters that "all the work will be over by December 2026—that is our target," with the first rocket launch planned for the fourth quarter of 2027.

Expanding India's Launch Capacity

The new spaceport will exclusively handle Small Satellite Launch Vehicle missions, which can carry payloads of up to 500 kilograms to altitudes of 400 kilometers. This represents a strategic complement to India's existing facility at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, which continues to serve as the primary launch site for heavier vehicles including Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles.

According to UNI news agency, the launch pad construction alone involves an outlay of approximately Rs 90 crore, while the entire complex carries a budget allocation of Rs 985.96 crore. The Ministry of Science and Technology confirmed that Rs 389.58 crore had been spent on the project as of July 31, 2025.

Strategic Location Advantages

The Kulasekarapattinam site offers significant operational advantages for polar orbit missions. Unlike launches from Sriharikota, which must perform complex maneuvers to avoid flying over Sri Lanka, the southern location allows direct launches over the Indian Ocean. This eliminates the fuel-intensive "dogleg maneuver" that reduces payload efficiency for smaller rockets.

The location provides what officials describe as a "direct south-bound, shorter launch trajectory," enhancing the payload capacity of SSLV missions to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits. According to parliamentary documents, SSLVs can carry approximately 300 kilograms to polar orbits from Kulasekarapattinam, representing a substantial improvement over launches from the existing facility.