Thiruvananthapuram: Pioneering Indian cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma met Kerala Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Cliff House, his official residence, here on Thursday. The first and sole Indian national to travel to space, extended his support to the proposed Kerala Space Park.

Kerala has huge potential in the future of outer space and aerospace areas, Sharma said.

Later, Pinarayi said they had discussed about the proposed Space Park which would come up on a 22- acre site at the TechnoCity at Pallippuram near here.

"The government expects that the presence of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram will boost the prospects and development of the Kerala Space Park," Pinarayi said.

He also expressed hope that the facility could compete in the aerospace market if it could manufacture and develop parts and technology required for the aerospace.

The release also said the state government has already signed an initial agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in this regard.

Sharma shared his experiences in space travel with the Chief Minister, it added.

The space park proposed at the Knowledge City here is aimed at attracting global start-ups working in space sector and also developing it as a major manufacturing hub for space-related technology, research and development.

(With inputs from PTI)