Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu confirms new spaceport at Hope Island for private launch missions

Key facts

• The new spaceport at Hope Island is expected to primarily support private launch providers, adding to India’s expanding launch infrastructure.
• India will have three spaceports: the existing Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) at Sriharikota, the upcoming SSLV Launch Complex at Kulasekharapatnam, and the proposed Hope Island facility.
• The Hope Island spaceport is being planned with commercial launches in mind, complementing ISRO’s existing facilities.
• Launch sites closer to the equator benefit from Earth’s rotation, reducing fuel requirements for eastward launches.
• Launches into polar orbits from Sriharikota require a ‘dog-leg’ manoeuvre to avoid flying over Sri Lanka, costing energy—especially significant for smaller rockets like SSLV, Vikram-1, and Agnibaan.
• ISRO is building the SSLV launch complex at Kulasekharapatnam, expected to be ready by 2027, to focus on polar orbit missions and support both ISRO and private players.