New Delhi: India’s space programme is preparing for its next big leap — from sending missions to the Moon to building a space station and eventually putting Indian astronauts on the lunar surface.
The first module of the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station could launch by 2028, while India is working toward a crewed Moon landing by 2040, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, Dr V. Narayanan said at IIT Delhi.
Speaking at an Institute Lecture on “India’s Space Programme: The Challenges and Way Forward” on September 23, Narayanan outlined a roadmap that includes the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, Chandrayaan-4, a Venus mission and new launch vehicles capable of carrying much heavier payloads into space.
The plans mark a significant expansion of India’s ambitions in space — from exploring the Moon and other planets to establishing a longer-term human presence beyond Earth.
Space station, Gaganyaan and the Moon
Narayanan said the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station has received project approval and is planned for launch by 2028. Further modules are expected to be added, with the station’s development targeted for completion by 2035.
The immediate focus, however, is on getting humans into space.
The Gaganyaan programme is currently working towards its first uncrewed mission, which will be an important step before India sends astronauts into orbit.
The country’s ambitions do not stop there. Narayanan said India is targeting a crewed lunar landing by 2040. A Venus mission is also part of the roadmap.
India is also preparing for a new generation of launch vehicles. According to Narayanan, a next-generation vehicle capable of placing 30,000 kg into low Earth orbit is under development, alongside partially reusable launch vehicle systems.
From being denied technology to building it ourselves
The roadmap comes after decades of gradual progress in India’s space programme.
Narayanan took the audience back to the early years of the programme, recalling India’s first rocket launch from Thumba in November 1963. At the time, India’s space capabilities were modest and the rocket was assembled using equipment gathered from different parts of the world.
The picture today is very different. India can now build and launch satellites for other countries on a commercial basis.
One example Narayanan highlighted was cryogenic propulsion. India was denied access to the technology in the early 1990s, forcing the country to develop the capability on its own.
“This technology was denied to India, and today I can inform you that we have developed three cryogenic propulsion systems entirely on our own. When the world denied us the technology, we simply decided we would build it ourselves,” Narayanan said.
From Chandrayaan-3 to lunar sample return
The success of Chandrayaan-3 remains a defining milestone in India’s space journey.
The mission made India the fourth country to achieve a successful soft landing on the Moon and the first to land near the lunar south polar region.
“23 August 2023 was a historic day for India. While only three countries had previously achieved a successful soft landing on the Moon, India became the fourth and the first to successfully land in the lunar south polar region,” Narayanan said.
The next phase will involve going beyond simply reaching the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-4 is being designed to bring lunar samples back to Earth, Narayanan said, adding another layer to India’s lunar exploration programme.
He also referred to India’s successful in-space docking experiment, which he said made India the fourth country to successfully execute an in-space docking operation.
Space reforms bring startups into the picture
India’s space ambitions are no longer limited to government institutions.
Narayanan said the space-sector reforms introduced in 2020 have helped create a growing private space ecosystem. He put the current number of space startups at 440 and said the country’s space economy is gradually expanding.
By 2040, India aims to be “second to none” in launch capability, satellite capability and space applications, he said.
The long-term ambition is tied to the broader goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, with the space programme expected to play a role in India’s development over the coming decades.
IIT Delhi and ISRO look at new areas of collaboration
Narayanan’s visit to IIT Delhi was not limited to the public lecture.
Before addressing students at Dogra Hall, he met faculty members from different academic units to discuss strengthening the existing collaboration between ISRO and IIT Delhi.
The two sides also discussed newer areas where they could work together, including solar panel technologies and biomechanics.
IIT Delhi Director Prof Rangan Banerjee said India’s space programme demonstrated what could be achieved through indigenous technological development.
“Space is one of the few areas where we have created indigenous technology that is globally competitive, and it serves as an inspiration for all of us,” Banerjee said.
For the students listening to Narayanan, however, his message went beyond rockets, missions and technology.
He urged them to think about what they could contribute to the country’s development rather than viewing a career only through the lens of salary.
“I request all of you just one thing. Your target should not be a job earning two or three lakhs. Your target should be to contribute to building a developed India by 2047,” he said.
For India’s space programme, the roadmap he outlined is equally ambitious: a space station in the coming decade, deeper lunar exploration, human spaceflight and, by 2040, an Indian crewed landing on the Moon.
