India is set to cement its place among the global leaders in space exploration with an ambitious plan to establish its own space station, the Bharat Antariksha Station, by 2035. Union Minister of State for Science, Technology, and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, announced this significant milestone during a press conference in Delhi on December 11. Besides, India aims to achieve another historic feat by landing an Indian on the Moon by 2040.
India’s First Human Spaceflight scheduled for late 2025
Dr. Jitendra Singh provided details on India’s much-anticipated Gaganyaan mission. This maiden human spaceflight is planned for late 2025 or early 2026. The mission will see four Indian astronauts orbiting Earth at a height of 400 km for three days. At the conclusion of their mission, the spacecraft will make a safe landing in the sea. If successful, India will join the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China as the fourth nation to achieve human spaceflight.
Number of space start-ups has surged
The Indian space sector has undergone transformative reforms in recent years. Dr. Singh said that the number of space start-ups has surged from just one in 2014 to 266 in 2023. Over the last decade, India has launched 432 foreign satellites, with 397 of these launches taking place in the past 10 years. To boost private-sector participation, institutions like IN-SPACe have been established, and private companies are now actively contributing to satellite manufacturing and launches.
A new law is being drafted to further streamline the management of India’s burgeoning space sector. These reforms aim to strengthen India's position as a key player in the global space economy.
Aiming for the Moon and Beyond
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the stage for several groundbreaking missions in the coming decades. These include:
Chandrayaan-4 Mission: Focused on bringing samples of lunar rocks back to Earth for detailed analysis.
Venus Exploration: A mission dedicated to studying Venus’s surface and atmosphere.
Next-Generation Launch Vehicles: Development of advanced rockets and satellite launch systems.
Human Lunar Mission by 2040: India’s ambitious plan to send an Indian astronaut to the Moon.
Samudrayaan Mission
India's scientific ambitions extend beneath the oceans with the Samudrayaan Mission. Dr. Singh told that the manned submersible Matsya 6000 is undergoing trials. In its first test, it will descend to a depth of 500 meters in the Bay of Bengal. By 2026, Matsya 6000 will take a three-member crew to an incredible depth of 6,000 meters. This mission intends to unlock the mysteries of the ocean and identify untapped natural resources.
Vision 2047
Dr. Singh outlined India’s long-term vision to become a global leader in science and space exploration by 2047. Key missions, such as the Bharat Antariksha Station, human lunar expeditions, and Venus exploration, are key to this strategy. Alongside these, advancements in deep-sea exploration will position India at the forefront of technological innovation.
These efforts will not only boost India's technological and scientific capabilities but also fuel economic growth, marking the nation as a trailblazer in space and science. With such ambitious plans, India is poised to redefine its role on the global stage.
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