In a testament to India's relentless pursuit of space exploration, the country's second spaceport, nestled in the serene coastal town of Kulasai, Tamil Nadu, has been making waves in the realm of space technology. Situated a mere stone's throw away from the quaint fishing hamlet of Manapad, this new launch complex stands as a beacon of India's soaring aspirations in the final frontier.
The foundation stone for the Kulasai Spaceport was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a momentous ceremony held on February 28, 2024. The occasion marked a pivotal milestone in India's space journey, signaling the dawn of a new era in space exploration. With its strategic location on the east coast, the spaceport stands as a testament to India's determination to expand its space infrastructure beyond the confines of its primary launch site at Sriharikota.
The liftoff’s significance was in trumpeting India’s second spaceport at Kulasai on the east coast, about 770km south of India’s Cape Canaveral, where the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC, which is also popularly known as Sriharikota Range) – the primary spaceport of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – is located.
With ambitious plans on the horizon, the Kulasai Spaceport is poised to play a pivotal role in India's quest to establish itself as a space superpower. From pioneering Mars missions to the development of indigenous satellites and scientific endeavors aimed at unraveling the mysteries of the universe, India's space program is poised for unprecedented growth.
The new spaceport, to be completed in two years for Rs 9.86 billion ($116 million) across about 2,300 acres, constitutes an intrinsic component of India’s ambitious agenda to become the new superpower in space through a whole gamut of initiatives.
While China's strides in space exploration loom large on the global stage, India remains undeterred in its pursuit of space dominance. With a keen focus on fostering innovation and scientific collaboration, India's space program is set to propel the country to new heights of technological prowess.
These initiatives, however, are tempered by the fact that they will not help India catch up with its neighbor and adversary, China. On May 3, Beijing launched its second lunar soil-return robotic mission, Chang’e 6, with instruments from France, Italy, Sweden, and Pakistan. The first one, Chang’e 4, journeyed to the Moon and returned with about 1.7kg of lunar soil from the far side.
Nonetheless, India is pushing ahead in the global market for small satellites that experts estimate will touch $13.7 billion by 2030, up from $3.2 billion in 2020. With a supportive ecosystem – including state-of-the-art infrastructure proposed for the design and production of small satellites near the launch facility at Kulasai – the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is likely to ride into the skies with two small, medium or nanosatellites launches at least twice a month, complementing the launch activities at Sriharikota space center.
The inauguration of the Kulasai Spaceport stands as a testament to India's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of human achievement. With each launch, India moves one step closer to realizing its vision of becoming a leading player in the global space arena, inspiring generations to dream of reaching for the stars.
