India’s Bharatiya Antariksha Station to Launch by 2035, Announces Union Minister
New Delhi: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, has announced that the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), India’s forthcoming space station, is projected to be operational by 2035. This ambitious plan reflects a broader vision for India’s space sector outlined in the Union Budget 2024-25.
Singh highlighted key milestones, including the goal to send an Indian astronaut to space by mid-2025 and to land an Indian on the Moon by 2040. The Indian space economy is expected to expand fivefold in the next decade, potentially reaching $44 billion, driven by a substantial Rs.1,000 crore investment in 2023. This growth aims to retain talent within India that might otherwise seek opportunities abroad.
The Gaganyaan mission, India’s inaugural human spaceflight program, is slated to launch next year following delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing trial flights are preparing for this historic event. Additionally, the space program will feature robot flights, with a female robot named Vayumitra scheduled for a 2025 mission to conduct astronaut-like activities and return to Earth.
The 2023 New Space policy has significantly impacted the sector by increasing private sector involvement and stimulating growth in digital space startups. From just one startup in 2021, the sector now boasts nearly 300, many of which are recognized as world-class innovations.
Singh praised the establishment of In-SPACe in 2020 as a crucial interface between the government and private sector, and noted the contributions of startups like AgniKul Cosmos and Skyroot. AgniKul Cosmos recently achieved a milestone with the launch of the world’s first rocket featuring a fully 3D-printed engine, while Skyroot is advancing towards developing a private sector rocket.
These developments underscore India’s growing prominence in the global space industry, with major international companies, such as SpaceX, showing interest in collaborations.
