Kerala’s First Spacepark Facilities Set to Open by Early 2028

The Kerala Spacepark – popularly called K‑Space – is finally taking shape. Officials say the twin blocks that will house a Common Facility Centre (CFC) and a Research & Development Centre (RDC) are slated to be operational by January 2028.

Located on a 18.5‑acre plot in Pallipuram, Thiruvananthapuram, the project currently sees construction on about 3.5 acres. The CFC is imagined as a shared‑workspace where private firms, budding start‑ups and entrepreneurs can plug into common test rigs, clean rooms and launch‑prep infrastructure. Beside it, the RDC will act as a cradle for innovation – fostering industry‑academia tie‑ups, product‑development cycles and rapid prototyping.

Why the fan‑fare? The UDF government is keen to turn Kerala into a “knowledge and space‑technology hub” under the broader Southern Kerala Economic Corridor plan. With success stories like Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram‑1 launch and the Technopark‑based satellite builder HEX‑20, the state sees a real market for private satellite manufacturing and launch services.

Financing the venture is a ₹241.3‑crore loan from NABARD’s Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. So far, K‑Space has inked 14 memorandums of understanding with ISRO units stationed in Thiruvananthapuram and with industry players, a clear signal that the ecosystem is ready to collaborate.

When the doors finally swing open, the hope is simple: give Kerala’s space‑tech dream a concrete base, attract investment, and let home‑grown innovators soar – literally and figuratively.