India has taken another giant leap forward in its space journey with ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announcing that the country will establish its very own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), by 2035. The announcement was made during celebrations of National Space Day in New Delhi on Saturday, where Narayanan outlined a comprehensive roadmap for India’s ambitious space exploration program.

According to the ISRO chief, the first module of BAS will be launched in 2028, marking the first step towards India becoming only the fourth country in the world to operate an independent space station, alongside the USA, Russia, and China. This initiative represents a monumental achievement for India’s growing space ecosystem and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-term vision of making India a global space power.

Modi’s Vision: Transforming India into a Space Superpower

Narayanan emphasized that much of the progress stems from PM Modi’s strategic guidance and futuristic vision. He revealed that Modi has approved the development of a Next Generation Launcher (NGL), a powerful rocket that will serve as the backbone of India’s future space missions.

He further highlighted that under Modi’s leadership, ISRO has received the green signal for Chandrayaan-4—the next chapter in India’s lunar exploration—and the Venus Orbiter Mission, which will expand India’s planetary exploration footprint.

The most ambitious part of the roadmap is India’s moon landing by 2040, not only placing astronauts on the lunar surface but also ensuring their safe return to Earth. This mission would position India at par with the world’s most advanced spacefaring nations by 2040.

Chandrayaan-4 and Venus Orbiter Mission

The announcement also underlines India’s determination to continue its planetary missions. Following the global recognition achieved by Chandrayaan-3, which successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole, ISRO is now gearing up for Chandrayaan-4, which is expected to further deepen India’s research into lunar geology and surface exploration.

Additionally, the Venus Orbiter Mission will place India in the elite category of nations exploring Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. The mission will study Venus’s dense atmosphere, surface conditions, and its interaction with solar radiation, providing valuable insights for planetary science.

India’s Own Space Station: BAS

The Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is envisioned as a modular space station, developed in phases. By 2028, the first segment will be launched, followed by additional modules that will allow long-duration human stays in orbit. BAS is expected to serve multiple purposes:

• Conducting scientific experiments in microgravity

• Hosting international collaborations

• Training Indian astronauts, or ‘Gaganyatris’, for deep space exploration missions

• Enhancing commercial opportunities in space manufacturing, medicine, and materials research

This development will solidify India’s position as a global space power, enabling it to compete with space stations operated by NASA and China’s Tiangong Station.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS Mission: A Stepping Stone

One of the most emotional parts of Narayanan’s speech was his reference to Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful visit to the International Space Station (ISS). He credited PM Modi for the idea of sending an Indian astronaut to the ISS before attempting a manned mission aboard an indigenous rocket.

Narayanan called the ISS mission a “historic milestone” that demonstrated India’s readiness for human spaceflight. He also emphasized that Shukla’s achievement should not overshadow the contributions of his three fellow astronauts, who remain an integral part of India’s Gaganyatri program.

This mission, he stressed, was a critical step in testing human endurance, astronaut training, and life-support systems before sending Indian astronauts aboard Indian-made rockets to space.

India’s Roadmap to 2040

Narayanan laid out a clear roadmap for India’s space ambitions:

• 2028: Launch of the first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)

• 2035: BAS fully operational as India’s independent space station

• Chandrayaan-4: Next lunar mission continuing from the success of Chandrayaan-3

• Venus Orbiter Mission: Expanding India’s planetary exploration efforts

• Next Generation Launcher (NGL): Advanced rocket technology for deep space missions

• 2040: Indian astronauts land on the Moon and safely return, matching global space leaders

Global Implications of India’s Space Ambitions

India’s announcement carries significant global implications. Establishing a space station and executing a manned lunar mission will not only enhance India’s scientific and technological capabilities but also boost its geopolitical stature. Space has become an area of strategic competition, and India’s move positions it as a key player in shaping the future of space exploration.

Furthermore, BAS could open avenues for international collaboration, with countries partnering with ISRO for research, technology sharing, and joint missions. It may also create opportunities for private space startups in India, further strengthening the nation’s space economy, which is projected to grow exponentially.

Conclusion

The announcement by ISRO chief V Narayanan marks a historic moment in India’s space journey. With a timeline extending to 2040, India is preparing to achieve milestones that will place it on par with global space leaders.

The vision of PM Modi, the leadership of ISRO, and the contributions of astronauts like Shubhanshu Shukla signify that India is not just participating in the global space race but is poised to lead it in the coming decades.

By 2035, India will have its own space station, and by 2040, it will see its astronauts land on the Moon, cementing its place as one of the foremost spacefaring nations in the world.

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