ISRO to Launch Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, Says Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is charting a bold new course for India’s space future with plans to launch the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)—a modular space station—by the year 2035, announced ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space, Dr. V. Narayanan, during an interaction with students and researchers at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Highlighting the strategic vision of India’s space programme, Dr. Narayanan said the launch of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station will mark a significant leap in India’s space research capabilities and strengthen its position in the global space community.

In addition, he shared that India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is on track for launch in March 2027. “Four test pilots are currently undergoing astronaut training,” he revealed. “Prior to the crewed mission, ISRO will conduct a series of uncrewed test missions to validate all essential systems.”

Outlining ISRO’s long-term vision, Dr. Narayanan said India aims to become a global space power by 2047, joining the elite ranks of nations with independent human spaceflight capabilities. So far, only Russia, the United States, and China have achieved this milestone.

Reflecting on India’s inspiring space journey, Dr. Narayanan traced its origins back to 1962, with ISRO formally established in 1969. He noted that India’s first satellite was launched in 1980, and since then, ISRO has developed six generations of launch vehicles, showcasing tremendous technological innovation.

“At one point, we were denied cryogenic engine technology,” he recalled. “Today, India has developed three cryogenic engines, including two fully indigenous ones.”

The ISRO chief also recounted landmark achievements, including:

• The soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon’s south pole, making India the first country to achieve this.
• The discovery of water molecules on the lunar surface.
• A world record for deploying over 100 satellites in a single mission.
• Successful entry into Mars’ orbit on the first attempt, a feat no other country has managed.

Looking to the future, Dr. Narayanan detailed upcoming missions such as Chandrayaan-4, which aims to bring lunar samples back to Earth, and Chandrayaan-5, envisioned as a collaborative mission with Japan.

He also shared insights into a recent major milestone: on January 16, 2025, ISRO successfully conducted a satellite docking experiment while the satellites were orbiting at 28,400 km/h, followed by a precise undocking maneuver—demonstrating India’s growing prowess in advanced space operations.

As India accelerates its space ambitions, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station stands as a symbol of scientific excellence and national pride, paving the way for deeper exploration and innovation in the cosmos.