India is moving towards establishing its own space station by 2035, with the first module of the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) already approved, ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said during the third National Space Day celebrations in Ahmedabad
Bharatiya Antariksha Station Takes Shape
Narayanan said work is progressing on India’s planned space station alongside the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. The approval of the first BAS module marks an important step towards building an Indian platform for sustained human activity in space, with the full station targeted for completion by 2035
India’s Space Programme Expands
The ISRO chairman highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s space capabilities over the past 64 years. Space-based technologies are now being used across more than 50 areas that directly benefit citizens, including Earth observation, remote sensing, telecommunications, television broadcasting, tele-education, disaster management, navigation and real-time monitoring
He said the country’s space programme is increasingly focused on innovation, collaboration and achieving a stronger position in the global space sector
Gaganyaan Remains a Key Programme
Along with the space station, Gaganyaan remains one of India’s major ongoing space initiatives. The human spaceflight programme is expected to lay important foundations for future crewed missions and India’s long-term ambitions in space exploration
Private Sector Gains Bigger Role
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the growing participation of private companies in India’s space sector. He said increased private involvement has created new opportunities while complementing ISRO’s work
Private players are increasingly involved in areas such as space applications, satellite manufacturing, payload development and satellite launches, helping expand India’s overall space capabilities
Chandrayaan 3 Legacy
Shekhawat also recalled the success of Chandrayaan-3, which achieved a historic landing near the Moon’s south polar region in August 2023. The landing site, named Shiv Shakti Point, became the reason for observing National Space Day in India
The growing combination of ISRO capabilities, human spaceflight programmes, the planned Bharatiya Antariksha Station and private-sector participation marks a significant expansion of India’s ambitions in space.
