ISRO Chief Meets CM Vijay As Tamil Nadu's New Spaceport Prepares For 2027 Launches

India is preparing to expand its space launch infrastructure in southern India, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planning to begin rocket launches from its upcoming Kulasekarapatnam spaceport in Tamil Nadu next year.

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat in Chennai on Friday, where the two discussed the space agency's preparations for launching rockets from the under-construction facility.

The meeting lasted around 30 minutes and took place against the backdrop of ISRO's plans to operationalise the new spaceport in 2027, official sources said.

During the meeting, Narayanan presented Vijay with a miniature model of a satellite launch vehicle.

The ISRO chief had announced on November 5 that rocket launches from Kulasekarapatnam would begin next year. Speaking on the sidelines of an event, he said construction and development work at the facility was progressing successfully.

Located near Tiruchendur in the Tuticorin district of southern Tamil Nadu, Kulasekarapatnam is being developed as India's second spaceport, alongside the existing launch facility at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The new spaceport is expected to strengthen India's launch capabilities and provide additional infrastructure for the country's growing space programme.