On Saturday, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh made a big statement about India’s ambitious space plan for the next 15 years. The plan sets a course for India to become self-sufficient and a leader in space technology around the world. The plan, which was made public during the second National Space Day celebrations, says that by 2040, more than 100 satellites will be launched, some by the government and some by private companies.
The roadmap is meant to help India reach its “Viksit Bharat” vision by using space technology to improve food and water security, catastrophe resilience, environmental sustainability, and equitable growth. It will do this by guiding India’s space journey to 2040 and beyond. Singh talked about how India’s space program is going through a transformative phase. It has gone from being a symbol of progress to becoming a key part of the country’s growth and public welfare.
The minister stressed the expanding involvement of private companies, saying that the opening up of the space sector has led to hundreds of start-ups creating new technology for both exploring other planets and running the government on a daily basis. He said that space technology is already a part of people’s life because it is used for crisis management, designing smart cities, and charting land ownership.
Singh also talked about what the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will do in the future. The Gaganyaan-1 human-robot mission, which will have the humanoid robot Vyommitra, is set to launch by the end of 2025. The Gaganyaan mission will send India’s first human into space in 2027.
There are a few other important milestones on the long-term roadmap:
Chandrayaan-4: A mission is set for 2028.
Mission to Venus: Also planned for 2028.
Bharat Antariksh Station: India wants to build its own space station by 2035.
Indian Astronaut on the Moon: India wants to send an astronaut to the moon by 2040. This would be a major achievement that would show how far the country has come in its goal of being a developed nation.
The detailed strategy shows that India wants to be a big player in the global space community, with a strong focus on both scientific progress and deploying space technology to help people.