From Thumba to tomorrow: Indian space programme is preparing for its biggest leap yet

India will establish its own space station by 2035, according to Dr V Narayanan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Speaking at the third National Space Day celebrations in Ahmedabad, Narayanan confirmed that the first module of the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Station has already been approved, setting the stage for the ambitious project. The space station aims to position India as a key player in global space exploration and utilization. The National Space Day commemorates India’s historic achievement with the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. This marked India as the first nation to land a spacecraft in that region, a feat that has inspired renewed interest in space exploration. The celebration in Ahmedabad included speeches from senior officials, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who highlighted the significance of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the broader progress of India’s space program. Narayanan emphasized that India has been steadily expanding its capabilities since the launch of its space program 64 years ago. He described how the country has leveraged space-based technologies to serve over 50 areas directly benefiting citizens, such as Earth observation, remote sensing, telecommunications, and disaster mitigation. These advancements have enabled India to provide essential services ranging from real-time monitoring to secure communications and educational outreach. In addition to the space station initiative, Narayanan outlined other major projects currently underway, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. This mission represents a significant leap forward in India’s quest to explore space beyond low Earth orbit. The Gaganyaan program is part of a broader strategy to enhance India’s presence in space through both robotic and crewed missions. The ISRO chief also mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, numerous programs are in the pipeline. These include not only the development of the space station but also the continued advancement of satellite technology and launch capabilities. The organization is working on multiple fronts to ensure that India maintains its momentum in space research and application. The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved a historic landing near the Moon’s south pole, was a pivotal moment for India’s space program. It demonstrated the country’s ability to conduct complex interplanetary missions and reinforced its reputation as a reliable actor in international space cooperation. The mission's success was widely celebrated, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking to social media to congratulate the nation and acknowledge the contributions of ISRO scientists. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reiterated the importance of the Chandrayaan-3 mission in shaping the future of India’s space endeavors. He noted that the success of the mission led to the designation of August 23 as National Space Day, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in the space sector. Shekhawat also praised the increased involvement of private entities in the space industry, which has helped accelerate the pace of technological development and reduce the time required for various space-related tasks. The evolution of India’s space program has been remarkable. Starting from the early days of launching sounding rockets from Thumba in 1963, the program has grown into a sophisticated enterprise capable of executing complex missions. Key milestones include the launch of Aryabhata in 1975, the development of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) for broadcasting, and the establishment of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) as a critical component of the national space infrastructure. Over the past few decades, ISRO has consistently adopted a methodical approach to achieving its goals, building, failing, diagnosing, redesigning, and flying again. This iterative process has allowed the organization to develop robust systems for satellite design, launch vehicles, and data processing. The launch of IRS-1A in 1988 marked a turning point, as it became India’s first operational remote sensing satellite, paving the way for extensive applications in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. As India looks ahead to the 2030s, the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station stands as a testament to the nation’s long-term vision in space exploration. With the first module already approved and the target date set for completion by 2035, ISRO is poised to play an increasingly prominent role in global space initiatives. The coming years will likely witness further collaborations with international partners, as well as the integration of private-sector innovations into the national space framework.