In areas where traditional salt production takes place, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to build a rocket launch center. In the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu in southern India, salt pans have served as the main source of income for workers for many years.
Salt is extracted by evaporating seawater under the influence of the sun. Workers go out to the pans early in the morning, collect and transport the salt. This work is arduous and depends on the season: production increases in hot months and stops during the rains.
In the Tuticorin district, thousands of people are connected to the salt industry, directly or indirectly; this region is considered one of the main salt producers in India, annually producing millions of tons of salt.
In the same district, a completely different, ultra-modern project is emerging. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is building its second launch center in Kulasekarapattinam, which is called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) complex. After Sriharikota, this will be the second major rocket launch center in the country.
ISRO has acquired 2200–2300 acres of land. The Prime Minister participated in the laying of this project in 2024. Construction work is actively underway, with a planned completion date of December 2026. Rockets carrying small satellites will be launched here, and this infrastructure will be available for use by private companies.
Salt production in the Tuticorin salt pans is carried out entirely naturally. Seawater is directed into large ponds or canals, where evaporation occurs under the action of the sun and wind, leaving behind salt crystals. Workers collect these crystals, pile them up, clean, and package them.
Both women and men participate in this work. Many families have been engaged in this business for several generations. Due to dependence on the weather, income remains unstable, and abnormal rains affect production. Nevertheless, this industry is an important part of the local economy and provides employment for many people.
Kulasekarapattinam was chosen as the location due to its proximity to the equator and its coastal position. From here, rockets can be launched directly in a southerly direction. When launching from Sriharikota, rockets have to take a winding route to avoid Sri Lanka, which leads to higher fuel consumption.
The new center will help reduce this problem and increase payload capacity. Small rockets, such as the SSLV, can easily launch from here, carrying satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms. It is planned to conduct 20 to 25 launches per year, which will enhance India's satellite launch capabilities and support the private sector.
This center will be open not only to ISRO but also to private company rockets. The process of transferring operations and management to the private sector has recently begun. This will strengthen private participation in space and solidify India's position in the global small satellite launch market.
In Tuticorin, age-old salt pans where workers manually extract salt coexist with a modern space technology center from which rockets take off. Both facilities are located in the same district. The salt industry provides local employment, while the launch center can create new high-tech jobs and development opportunities. Although there are sometimes concerns about land acquisition and local impact, officials state that the project is in a separate zone.
These changes give a new look to the district. Salt production will continue, and space activities will increase. Salt, created by the labor of workers, is used in daily life, while satellites launched from here will assist in communication, weather forecasting, and scientific research. Both aspects represent different facets of India's progress.