- At present, rockets are launched from the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro’s) spaceport at Sriharikotta, near Chennai.
- The government has decided to set up a second facility in the backdrop of an increase in the number of launches by Isro for domestic and international customers.
- Country’s second space rocket launching port by Isro in Tamil Nadu’s Kulasekarapattinam.
- As per a request made by the Department of Space, the Tamil Nadu government has identified over 961 hectares in Thoothukudi district.
- At present, one launch pad is being proposed at the second launch port at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
- A rocket launch pad at Kulasekarapattinam will be near to the equator.
- Hence, a spaceport in Tuticorin district will be ideal for putting satellites in polar orbit.
- The space agency’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is at Mahendragiri in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu where it assembles the second and fourth stage/engines for the PSLV.
- Instead of transporting the second and fourth stages to Sriharikota from Mahendragiri it will be easier to shift them to the launch pad if it is built in Kulasekarapattinam which is around 100 km away.
