India’s Bold Leap into Space: PM Modi Announces National Space Station Plan

On the occasion of National Space Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a landmark vision for India’s future in space exploration. His announcement that India will build its own space station marked a turning point in the country’s space program, underscoring its ambition to emerge as a leading spacefaring nation. Alongside this, he highlighted plans for a national astronaut pool, expanded interplanetary missions, and a renewed push for indigenous technological innovation.

PM Modi | File Image | News18

The Dream of Bharatiya Antariksh Station

The centrepiece of Modiji’s announcement is the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), an indigenous orbital laboratory that will transform India’s role in space research and technology. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has already unveiled a model of the station, showcasing its modular design and sophisticated systems.

According to ISRO, the first module—BAS-01—will be launched by 2028, with the station expected to be fully operational by 2035. The module will orbit at an altitude of about 450 km and weigh nearly 10 tonnes. It will be equipped with an indigenous Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), automated hatches, advanced docking systems, microgravity research facilities, and protection against radiation and space debris.

Beyond serving as a hub for scientific research, the station will also open new doors for space tourism and international cooperation, positioning India as both a collaborator and a self-reliant space power.

Expanding the Human Spaceflight Mission

The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is closely linked to the country’s flagship human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. Originally designed to send Indian astronauts into low-Earth orbit, Gaganyaan has now been expanded to include the development of space station modules and long-duration missions. The project’s budget was recently increased to $2.32 billion, reflecting its growing scale and ambition.

Over the coming years, Gaganyaan will include multiple crewed and uncrewed flights, laying the groundwork for BAS. These missions will validate critical technologies such as orbital docking, autonomous systems, and life support infrastructure—technologies essential for sustaining human presence in space.

New Rockets and Interplanetary Aspirations

India’s space roadmap extends far beyond the Earth’s orbit. Alongside the BAS, ISRO is developing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), a heavy-lift rocket designed to increase payload capacity and reduce launch costs. This vehicle will be vital not only for station missions but also for interplanetary exploration.

Among the upcoming planetary projects are Chandrayaan-4, a mission to build upon India’s lunar successes, and a Venus orbiter aimed at exploring the planet’s atmosphere and surface. Looking further ahead, Modi announced India’s goal of conducting a lunar sample-return mission and a crewed Moon landing by 2040, firmly placing the country among global leaders in deep space exploration.

The Human Element: Astronauts at the Forefront

Prime Minister Modi’s speech also celebrated India’s growing human presence in space. He announced the creation of an “astronaut pool” that would nurture a new generation of Indian spacefarers, ensuring that the nation is ready to meet the challenges of extended space habitation.

This announcement came on the heels of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this year. As part of the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla conducted microgravity experiments and famously unfurled the Indian tricolour in space, a moment the Prime Minister described as “beyond words.” Shukla’s achievement has been hailed across the nation and will be honored in a special parliamentary session.

Private Sector and Global Partnerships

While India’s focus is on self-reliance, international cooperation and private-sector involvement are key pillars of its strategy. ISRO’s recent experiments in space docking technology (SpaDeX) are laying the foundation for modular station assembly, while future iterations will focus on orbital resupply and servicing.

Global agencies, including NASA, have expressed openness to collaboration, particularly on India’s space station. Meanwhile, through initiatives such as IN-SPACe, India is creating opportunities for private companies to contribute through technology development, ground services, and launch support. A second launch site in Tamil Nadu is also under construction, expanding the nation’s infrastructure to meet rising demand.

Conclusion: A Defining Moment for India in Space

Prime Minister Modi’s National Space Day address was more than a ceremonial speech; it was a roadmap for India’s future among the stars. The vision of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, backed by human spaceflight programs, new-generation rockets, and interplanetary missions, represents a bold leap forward.

This journey is not only about scientific achievement but also about national pride, self-reliance, and global collaboration. As India moves from Aryabhata to Gaganyaan and now to its own space station, it signals the dawn of a new era—one where the country takes its place at the forefront of space exploration. By 2035, with a fully operational space station, and by 2040, with a crewed Moon landing, India aims to redefine the limits of what is possible for a rising space power.

(Sources: Firstpost, News18, Business Today)