Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, Spaceport in Thiruvananthapuram, India.
The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station is a rocket launch facility on the southwest coast of India, positioned close to the magnetic equator. The complex holds multiple launch pads, laboratories, and technical buildings dedicated to scientific rocket operations.
The facility began operations in November 1963 with the launch of a Nike-Apache sounding rocket, marking India's entry into space research. Over the following decades, the station developed into a center for atmospheric and ionospheric study missions.
Local Bishop Peter Bernard Periera and district collector Madhavan Nair helped acquire 600 acres from the coastal community to establish the facility.
Its position at roughly 8 degrees north latitude makes the station well suited for upper atmosphere and ionospheric research. The proximity to the coast and the magnetic equator allows for specialized study missions in this field.
Engineers developed the Rohini series of sounding rockets here, which completed over 180 successful launches between 2002 and 2007. These rockets were entirely designed and built within India.
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