---
title: "Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport: ISRO's 2nd Site"
description: "Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport is ISRO's second launch site in Tamil Nadu, built for SSLV polar launches that avoid the dogleg manoeuvre needed at Sriharikota."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/kulasekarapattinam-spaceport"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport is ISRO's second launch complex, under construction in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to small satellite launch vehicles.
- Why is ISRO building a second spaceport when Sriharikota already exists?
- What launch vehicles will Kulasekarapattinam handle?
- How does the spaceport relate to India's space-sector reforms?
- What controversies surround the project?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport is ISRO's second launch complex, under construction in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to small satellite launch vehicles.

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## Positions at a glance

### Supporters

The facility is conceived primarily for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and other small commercial launchers, not for the heavy GSLV-Mk III/LVM3 vehicles that anchor Sriharikota's manifest. The SSLV — a three-stage solid-propellant rocket capable of placing roughly 500 kg into low Earth orbit — is designed for rapid, on-demand, low-cost launch of small satellites, and its technology is being transferred to private industry for commercial production. By dedicating Kulasekarapattinam to this class of vehicle, ISRO and NSIL intend to support a high-cadence commercial launch business, freeing Sriharikota to concentrate on heavy-lift, human-spaceflight (Gaganyaan), and interplanetary missions. Initial planning anticipates the spaceport supporting a high annual launch rate once both pads and ground systems are operational.

### Opponents

Contemporary work on the site has involved the Tamil Nadu state government, which facilitated land acquisition across villages including Mathavankurichi, Pallakurichi, and surrounding areas in Thoothukudi district. The project encountered local opposition over land acquisition and livelihood concerns among fishing and farming communities, requiring compensation negotiations and rehabilitation commitments. Following the February 2024 groundbreaking, construction of launch pads, integration facilities, and tracking infrastructure has proceeded with the stated aim of conducting initial launches within the latter half of the 2020s. The location near Thoothukudi port and the proximity to Tamil Nadu's industrial corridor also feed an ambition to develop an associated space-industrial ecosystem.

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On 28 February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, designating it ISRO's second launch site for SSLV missions.

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