ISRO’s New Rocket Launch Centre Set to Become Operational Soon

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to make its new rocket launch centre at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu operational soon. The launch facility, being developed in the Thoothukudi district as an alternative to the Sriharikota launch centre, is expected to conduct its first rocket launch next year. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced this while speaking at an event held at the Periyar Science and Technology Centre on Thursday.

During the event, Narayanan unveiled a statue of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. He said construction work on the new launch pad was progressing at a rapid pace and expressed confidence that the facility would be ready for its first launch next year. He also thanked Russia for its support to India's space programme, particularly its cooperation in the country's human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.