Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:56, 28 August 2025

Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) is India's first rocket launching station and was established on 21 November 1963.^[1]^[2] Operated by ISRO, it is located in Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, which is near the southwestern tip of mainland India, very close to Earth's magnetic equator. It is currently used by ISRO for launching sounding rockets.^[1]

The first rockets were assembled in the former St Louis High School, which now houses a space museum.^[3] The local Bishop of Trivandrum, Rev. Peter Bernard Periera, along with Vincent Victor Dereere (a Belgian) and district collector Madhavan Nair were instrumental in acquiring a large parcel of land measuring 600 acres from coastal community.^[4] Periera had given away the prayer hall and bishop's room in the local church. Minister of State for External Affairs, Lakshmi N. Menon helped to smooth bureaucratic hurdles facing the project in Delhi.^[5] H. G. S. Murthy was appointed as the first Director of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.^[6]

Rockets launched from the site include RH-300, M-100, Nike Apache, Arcas, Boosted Arcas, Skua 1, Centaure, Centaure 2A, Centaure 2B, Nike Tomahawk, Dragon 1, Judi-Dart, Boosted Arcas 2, Petrel 1, RH-75, Skua 2, Sandhawk Tomahawk, Menaka II, RH-125, M-100B, M-100A, RH-200 and RH-300 Mk II.^[2]

Template:GeogroupThe site has five launchpads:

Pad 1 at 8°32′00″N 76°52′02″E / 8.533440511878172°N 76.86728897138364°E (Pad 1), sounding rockets^[7]
Pad 2 at 8°31′58″N 76°52′05″E / 8.53268929608746°N 76.86794175657239°E (Pad 2), sounding rockets^[8]
Pad 3 at 8°31′49″N 76°52′11″E / 8.530164446832044°N 76.86979707233245°E (Pad 3), sounding rockets^[9]
Pad 4 at 8°31′46″N 76°52′15″E / 8.529557306065989°N 76.87081759512913°E (Pad 4), sounding rockets^[10]
Pad 5 at 8°31′53″N 76°52′08″E / 8.531419615302084°N 76.86902030573928°E (Pad 5), RH-300 launch complex, active after 1993^[11]

Location[edit | edit source]

Thumba's^[12] location at 8°32'34" N and 76°51'32" E is ideal for low-altitude, upper atmosphere and ionosphere studies. Thumba is a small fishing village situated close to the Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala.^[13]^[14]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "Sounding Rockets - ISRO". www.isro.gov.in. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
↑ Pal, Sanchari (8 November 2016). "Transported on a Bicycle, Launched from a Church: The Amazing Story of India's First Rocket Launch". The Better India. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
↑ Joseph, Verghese (23 July 2019). "When ISRO Aimed For the Heavens, a Tiny Church in Kerala Said Amen!". Indian Catholic Matters. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
↑ "Remembering the guiding light". Deccan Chronicle. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
↑ Pawar, Ashwini (29 July 2015). "I'm proud that I recommended him for ISRO: EV Chitnis". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
↑ Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 1". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
↑ Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 2". astronautix.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
↑ Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 3". astronautix.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
↑ Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 4". astronautix.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
↑ Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 5". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
↑ Ley, Willy (June 1964). "Anyone Else for Space?". For Your Information. Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 110–128.
↑ Iype, George (20 November 2003). "Forty years in Space". www.rediff.com. India Abroad. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
↑ Ram, Arun (19 February 2015). "Rocket science of south". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

Official website of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

8°32′34″N 76°51′32″E / 8.54278°N 76.85889°E / 8.54278; 76.85889

Template:Spaceport

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "Sounding Rockets - ISRO". www.isro.gov.in. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.

[:1-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

[3] Pal, Sanchari (8 November 2016). "Transported on a Bicycle, Launched from a Church: The Amazing Story of India's First Rocket Launch". The Better India. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

[4] Joseph, Verghese (23 July 2019). "When ISRO Aimed For the Heavens, a Tiny Church in Kerala Said Amen!". Indian Catholic Matters. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.

[5] "Remembering the guiding light". Deccan Chronicle. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.

[6] Pawar, Ashwini (29 July 2015). "I'm proud that I recommended him for ISRO: EV Chitnis". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.

[7] Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 1". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

[8] Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 2". astronautix.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.

[9] Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 3". astronautix.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.

[10] Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 4". astronautix.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.

[11] Wade, Mark (2019). "Thumba Pad 5". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

[ley196406-12] Ley, Willy (June 1964). "Anyone Else for Space?". For Your Information. Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 110–128.

[rediff-13] Iype, George (20 November 2003). "Forty years in Space". www.rediff.com. India Abroad. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2016.

[14] Ram, Arun (19 February 2015). "Rocket science of south". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Indian spaceport}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date= June 2023}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
-{{Use Indian English|date= June 2023}}
+{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
 {{Infobox launch pad
 | image       = Rohini rocket.jpg
 | caption     = Launch of RH-300 Mk2 from TERLS
-| location    = Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
+| location    = [[Thumba]], [[Thiruvananthapuram district|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
 | coordinates = {{coord|8|32|34|N|76|51|32|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}
 | time_zone   = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 | short       = TERLS
 | established = {{Start date and age|df=y|1963|11|21}}
-| operator    = ISRO
+| operator    = [[ISRO]]
 }}
-'''Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station''' ('''TERLS''') is an Indian [[spaceport]] established on 21 November 1963.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/sounding-rockets|title=Sounding Rockets - ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2019-09-11}}</ref> Operated by the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO), it is located in [[Thumba]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], which is near the southern tip of mainland India, very close to earth's [[Magnetic dip|magnetic equator]]. It is currently used by ISRO for launching [[sounding rocket]]s.<ref name=":0" />
-The first rockets were assembled in former St Louis High School, which houses now a space museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/74283/first-rocket-india-thumba-vikram-sarabhai-abdul-kalam/|title=Transported on a Bicycle, Launched from a Church: The Amazing Story of India's First Rocket Launch|website=The Better India|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-04}}</ref> The local Bishop, Rev. Peter Bernard Periera, Bishop of Trivandrum, Vincent Victor Dereere (a [[Belgians|Belgian]]) and district collector Madhavan Nair were instrumental in acquiring a large parcel of land measuring 600 acres from coastal community.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ICM|first=Team|title=When ISRO Aimed For the Heavens, a Tiny Church in Kerala Said Amen!|url=https://indiancatholicmatters.org/when-india-aimed-for-the-heavens-a-tiny-church-in-kerala-said-amen/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Indian Catholic Matters|language=en-US}}</ref> The Bishop Rev. Periera had given away the prayer hall and bishop's room in the local church for scientific pursuits of [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Former President of India: Speeches : Details|url=http://abdulkalam.nic.in/sp210203-3.html|access-date=2020-10-26|website=abdulkalam.nic.in}}</ref> Then Minister of State for External Affairs, [[Lakshmi N. Menon]] helped a lot in smoothing the bureaucratic hurdles before the project at Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Remembering the guiding light|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/301119/remembering-the-guiding-light.html|access-date=2020-10-26|website=www.deccanchronicle.com}}</ref> [[H. G. S. Murthy]] was appointed as the first Director of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-i-m-proud-that-i-recommended-him-for-isro-ev-chitnis-2109096|title=I'm proud that I recommended him for ISRO: EV Chitnis}}</ref>
+'''Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station''' ('''TERLS''') is India's first rocket launching station and was established on 21 November 1963.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/sounding-rockets|title=Sounding Rockets - ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2019-09-11|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211145536/https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/sounding-rockets|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Wade |first=Mark |date=2019 |title=Thumba |url=http://astronautix.com/t/thumba.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521163843/http://astronautix.com/t/thumba.html |archive-date=21 May 2022 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=astronautix.com}}</ref> Operated by [[ISRO]], it is located in [[Thumba]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], which is near the southwestern tip of mainland India, very close to Earth's [[Magnetic dip|magnetic equator]]. It is currently used by ISRO for launching [[sounding rocket]]s.<ref name=":0" />
-==Location==
+The first rockets were assembled in the former St Louis High School, which now houses a space museum.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pal |first=Sanchari |date=2016-11-08 |title=Transported on a Bicycle, Launched from a Church: The Amazing Story of India's First Rocket Launch |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/74283/first-rocket-india-thumba-vikram-sarabhai-abdul-kalam/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419214459/https://www.thebetterindia.com/74283/first-rocket-india-thumba-vikram-sarabhai-abdul-kalam/ |archive-date=19 April 2019 |access-date=2019-09-04 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref> The local Bishop of Trivandrum, Rev. Peter Bernard Periera, along with Vincent Victor Dereere (a [[Belgians|Belgian]]) and district collector Madhavan Nair were instrumental in acquiring a large parcel of land measuring 600 acres from coastal community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Verghese |date=2019-07-23 |title=When ISRO Aimed For the Heavens, a Tiny Church in Kerala Said Amen! |url=https://indiancatholicmatters.org/when-india-aimed-for-the-heavens-a-tiny-church-in-kerala-said-amen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028222043/https://indiancatholicmatters.org/when-india-aimed-for-the-heavens-a-tiny-church-in-kerala-said-amen/ |archive-date=28 October 2020 |access-date=2020-10-26 |website=Indian Catholic Matters |language=en-US}}</ref> Periera had given away the prayer hall and bishop's room in the local church. Minister of State for External Affairs, [[Lakshmi N. Menon]] helped to smooth bureaucratic hurdles facing the project in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Remembering the guiding light|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/301119/remembering-the-guiding-light.html|access-date=2020-10-26|website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=30 November 2019 |archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028212145/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/301119/remembering-the-guiding-light.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[H. G. S. Murthy]] was appointed as the first Director of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pawar |first=Ashwini |date=Jul 29, 2015 |title=I'm proud that I recommended him for ISRO: EV Chitnis |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-i-m-proud-that-i-recommended-him-for-isro-ev-chitnis-2109096 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709211836/https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-i-m-proud-that-i-recommended-him-for-isro-ev-chitnis-2109096 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=13 July 2021}}</ref>
+Rockets launched from the site include [[Rohini (rocket family)|RH-300]], [[M-100 (rocket)|M-100]], [[Nike-Apache|Nike Apache]], [[Arcas (rocket)|Arcas]], [[Boosted Arcas]], [[Skua (rocket)|Skua]] 1, [[Centaure (rocket)|Centaure]], Centaure 2A, Centaure 2B, [[Nike (rocket stage)|Nike Tomahawk]], [[Dragon (rocket)|Dragon]] 1, [[Judi-Dart]], Boosted Arcas 2, [[Petrel (rocket)|Petrel]] 1, RH-75, Skua 2, [[Sandhawk]] Tomahawk, Menaka II, RH-125, M-100B, M-100A, RH-200 and RH-300 Mk II.<ref name=":1" />
+{{geogroup}}The site has five launchpads:
+* '''Pad 1''' at {{Coord|8.533440511878172|76.86728897138364|name=Pad 1}}, sounding rockets<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thumba Pad 1 |last=Wade |first=Mark |date=2019 |url=http://astronautix.com/t/thumbapad1.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=astronautix.com |archive-date=12 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112155308/http://astronautix.com/t/thumbapad1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
+* '''Pad 2''' at {{Coord|8.53268929608746|76.86794175657239|name=Pad 2}}, sounding rockets<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thumba Pad 2 |last=Wade |first=Mark |date=2019 |url=http://astronautix.com/t/thumbapad2.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=astronautix.com}}</ref>
+* '''Pad 3''' at {{Coord|8.530164446832044|76.86979707233245|name=Pad 3}}, sounding rockets<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thumba Pad 3 |last=Wade |first=Mark |date=2019 |url=http://astronautix.com/t/thumbapad3.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=astronautix.com}}</ref>
+* '''Pad 4''' at {{Coord|8.529557306065989|76.87081759512913|name=Pad 4}}, sounding rockets<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thumba Pad 4 |last=Wade |first=Mark |date=2019 |url=http://astronautix.com/t/thumbapad4.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=astronautix.com}}</ref>
+* '''Pad 5''' at {{Coord|8.531419615302084|76.86902030573928|name=Pad 5}}, RH-300 launch complex, active after 1993<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thumba Pad 5 |last=Wade |first=Mark |date=2019 |url=http://astronautix.com/t/thumbapad5.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=astronautix.com |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117155119/http://www.astronautix.com/t/thumbapad5.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
+== Location ==
 [[Thumba]]'s<ref name="ley196406">{{Cite magazine
   |last=Ley
   |first=Willy
   |first2=
+ |date=June 1964
   |title=Anyone Else for Space?
   |department=For Your Information
@@ Line 28: / Line 40: @@
   |pages=110–128
   |type=
-}}</ref> location at 8°32'34" N and 76°51'32" E is ideal for low-altitude, upper atmosphere and ionosphere studies. Thumba is a small fishing village situated close to the [[Thiruvananthapuram]] airport in [[Kerala]].<ref name = rediff>{{cite web|title=Forty years in Space|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/20spec.htm|website=www.rediff.com|publisher=India Abroad|access-date=10 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rocket science of south|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rocket-science-of-south/articleshow/46294497.cms|first=Arun|last=Ram|access-date=November 12, 2022|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
+}}</ref> location at 8°32'34" N and 76°51'32" E is ideal for low-altitude, upper atmosphere and ionosphere studies. Thumba is a small fishing village situated close to the [[Thiruvananthapuram]] airport in [[Kerala]].<ref name="rediff">{{cite web |last=Iype |first=George |date=November 20, 2003 |title=Forty years in Space |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/20spec.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417222418/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/20spec.htm |archive-date=17 April 2021 |access-date=10 May 2016 |website=www.rediff.com |publisher=India Abroad}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rocket science of south|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rocket-science-of-south/articleshow/46294497.cms|first=Arun|last=Ram|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=November 12, 2022|website=The Times of India|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112221531/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rocket-science-of-south/articleshow/46294497.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
-==References==
+== See also ==
+{{Portal bar|India|Rocketry|Spaceflight}}
+* [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]]
+* [[SSLV Launch Complex]]
+* [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]]
+== References ==
 {{Reflist}}
-==External links==
+== External links ==
+{{Commons category}}
 *[http://www.vssc.gov.in/ Official website of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]
@@ Line 45: / Line 63: @@
 [[Category:Space programme of India]]
-[[Category:Spaceports]]
+[[Category:Spaceports in Asia]]
 [[Category:Rocket launch sites in India]]
 [[Category:Organisations based in Thiruvananthapuram]]

v t e Indian space programme
Department of Space (DoS)
Organisations	Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Antrix Corporation Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS) National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) New Space India Limited (NSIL) Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU) Integrated Space Cell Defence Space Agency Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN–SPACe)
Programmes	Bhaskara GAGAN GSAT INSAT IRNSS IRS Cartosat RISAT Rohini SROSS Chandrayaan Human Spaceflight Programme
Satellites	APPLE Aryabhata HAMSAT IMS-1 Megha-Tropiques NISAR SARAL South Asia Satellite SRE SRE II Kalpana-1 CARE
Space observatories	Astrosat Aditya-L1 (planned) XPoSat (planned) AstroSat-2 (proposed)
Lunar and planetary spacecraft	Chandrayaan-1 Chandrayaan-2 Chandrayaan-3 (planned, 2022) Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (proposed) Mars Orbiter Mission Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (proposed) Shukrayaan-1 (proposed)
Crewed spacecraft	Gaganyaan (Under development)
Rockets	Engines CE-7.5 CE-20 Vikas Orbital SLV ASLV PSLV Launches GSLV Mk I Mk II Launches Mk III Suborbital Rohini ATV Concepts ULV Under development RLV Technology Demonstration Programme RLV-TD HEX SSLV SCE-200
Facilities	Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) Master Control Facility (MCF) Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) ISRO Satellite Integration and Testing Establishment (ISITE) Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) ISRO Propulsion Complex Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC)
Legislation	Space Activities Bill
Private companies	Pixxel Skyroot Aerospace Satellize AgniKul Cosmos Dhruva Space Bellatrix Aerospace TeamIndus
Related	SAGA-220 (supercomputer) RESPOND
List of Indian satellites List of Satish Dhawan Space Centre launches List of ISRO missions List of ISRO chairpersons

Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:56, 28 August 2025

Contents

Location[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]