Second Rocket Launch Pad of India

India presently has one rocket port at Sriharikota in AndhraPradesh with two launch pads. Second rocket launch pad is being setup in Thoothukudi (formerly known as Tuticorin) district in Tamil Nadu.

Thoothukudi has been chosen because of following reasons:

• Thoothukudi is around 70-100 kms away from ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Tirunelveli
• Rockets launched from Thoothukudi don’t require deviation of rocket from straight flight path as there is no landmass along the flight path in the southward direction. It will also improve the payload capability.
• Location of spaceport should be close to the equator and on the east coast as Earth’s rotation provides a speed boost to rockets launched.